Pollinators and Beneficial Insects

The Pollinator Protection Act prohibits the use of neonicotinoid pesticides outdoors by home by gardeners.

Flower flies are a natural predator of aphids. Flower flies are mainly nonselective pollinators, feeding on nectar and pollen from a variety of plants and agriculturally important crops.

Parasitoids are small insects whose immature stages develop either within or attached to the outside of other insects, referred to as hosts.

Predatory bugs are in the insect order Hymenoptera and use piercing-sucking mouthparts to kill their prey.

Lacewings are delicate green or brown insects, excellent predators of aphids and other small insects.

Tachinid flies are among the many beneficial flies that prey on garden pests.

Aphid parasitoids are very tiny wasps that lay their eggs in aphids.

Mining bees in Lawns

Honey bees are non-native bees that are used for pollination and production of honey and wax. They are social insects that live in large colonies. They will only sting to defend themselves. 

Bumble bees are important pollinators that feed on nectar and pollen. They very rarely sting.