Beneficial Bugs & Plants
Some Jeepers are Keepers
Learn about beneficial bugs and plants for your yard
Many bugs in your garden are actually beneficial. Good bugs can provide pest control, pollination, and even esthetics (butterflies). To be sure you aren’t harming or getting rid of them, avoid using insecticides. Instead, begin attracting beneficial bugs by selecting the right type of plants for yard or garden.
First, identify your goal and the type of bug you’d like to attract. Then review the options below for the right plant for your home.
Remember, some jeepers are keepers! Check out these guides to healthy and natural Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in English and in Spanish.
Here are some of the good bugs and plants for your garden. Click any to see how they benefit your garden!
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Bee
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Dragonfly
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Green Lacewing
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Ground Beetle
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Ladybug
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Spider
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Parasitic Wasp
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Praying Mantis
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Soldier Beetle
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Syrphid Fly
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Bee
Beneficial for pollination
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Dragonfly
Dragonflies feed on mosquitos, gnats, flies, termites and ants
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Green Lacewing
Lacewing larvae prey on aphids, leafhoppers, mites,psyllids, whiteflies and the eggs of insects. They help control many insect pests that attach fruits and vegetables
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Ground Beetle
Ground beetles feed on cabbage worms, corn earworms, cutworms, potato beetles, asparagus beetles slugs, and weed seeds
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Ladybug
Adult ladybugs and their larvae rid your garden of aphids
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Spider
Spiders trap and feed on roaches, earwigs, mosquitos, flies, moths, and other spiders and insects
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Parasitic Wasp
Depending on the species of parasitic wasp, they help rid your garden of aphids, beetles and worms
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Praying Mantis
Adult praying mantises and their larvae are completely harmless to plants and feed on aphids, beetles, moths, flies, crickets, and other insects.
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Soldier Beetle
Soldier Beetle adults and their larvae prey on other beetles that are garden pests such as cucumber beetles as well as corn rootworms, aphids, grasshopper eggs, caterpillars and beetle larvae.
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Syrphid Fly
Syrphid flies prey on aphids, young cabbage worms, and mealybugs
Here are some of the bad bugs and plants for your garden. Click any to see how they impact your garden!
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Buckwheat
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California Lilac
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Daisy
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Dill
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Goldenrod
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Marigold
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Parsley
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Mint
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Sunflower
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Yarrow
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Buckwheat
The buckwheat plant attracts flies, parasitic wasps, lacewings and ladybugs.
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California Lilac
The California Lilac plant attracts parasitic wasps and bees.
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Daisy
Daisies attract butterflies, bees, lacewings, and syrphid flies.
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Dill
The herb, dill attracts syrphid flies, lacewings, and parasitic wasps.
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Goldenrod
The goldenrod plant attracts soldier beetles and parasitic wasps
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Marigold
The marigold plant attracts syrphid flies, ladybugs and parasitic wasps
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Parsley
The herb parsley attracts syrphid flies, and parasitic wasps
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Mint
The herb mint attracts syrphid flies, parasitic wasps and bees
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Sunflower
Sunflowers attract bees, butterflies, ladybugs, syrphid flies and parasitic wasps
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Yarrow
The yarrow plant attract butterflies, bees, ladybugs, flies, and parasitic wasps
For more information about beneficial bugs or pest control visit our partners :
Our Water Our World
Tips for Do-It-Yourselfers, and a list of local stores that provide less toxic pest control products.
UC IPM Statewide Integrated
Pest Management Program
Check out this website to learn about alternative solutions that reduce pests in and around the home.
UCCE Master Gardeners
Contact a Master Gardeners to get answers for gardening and pest management questions.