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In Plants:
Number of leaves
Where leaves attach to
stem
Shape of leaves
Shape of stem
Veining on leaves
Coloration
Wasps act as pollinators.
They are also voracious
hunters. Some species will
parasitize hornworms
with their eggs.
Syrphid Flies are also known as
hover or flower flies. They eat
aphids and thrips. They are also
important pollinators.
Praying Mantis only eat live
food. This can include flies,
crickets, moths, and locusts.
Lacewings eat aphids, mites,
thrips, mealy bugs, immature
white flies and small caterpillars.
Bees are excellent pollinators.
There are many native species
that look very different from
the honeybee. They are nonaggressive and will die after
using their stinger.
Crab Spiders, Jumping Spiders, Orb Web and
Wolf Spiders are all important garden
predators. Most garden spiders do not make
webs but hunt their prey instead. They eat
many different insects and slugs.
Ladybug larvae look
like little dragons. They
are excellent at
controlling aphids.
Ground Beetles are nocturnal predators that
feed on slugs, snails, cutworms, cabbage
maggots, and caterpillars. One beetle can
eat up to 50 caterpillars during their life.
Hornets are meat eating
predators. They will hunt
earwigs, moths, and
caterpillars. They can be
aggressive and do not die
when they use their
stinger. They are often
confused with bees and
wasps.
Pirate Bugs are tiny, fierce predators. They use
their piercing mouth parts to penetrate their
victims and suck them dry. They especially like
to feed on thrips, spider mites, aphids, white
flies and small caterpillars. Each adult Pirate
Bug can eat up to 20 thrips larvae a day.
Aphids come in many colors. There are over 4000
identified species. They have a flying stage and a
non-flying stage and can reproduce several times
during a single season. They use their sucking
mouth parts to feed on plant tissues. Sometimes
they transmit viral diseases.
White flies multiply rapidly. They are typically
found on the underside of leaves. They have
piercing mouth parts that suck the sap from
plants. White flies release a sticky ‘honeydew’
that can cause a secondary black mold
infection on plants that are infested.
Earwigs are omnivorous. They act as
predators but will also feed on plant
material….especially ripe fruit. Spiders,
birds, yellow jackets, reptiles and
amphibians regularly feed on Earwigs and
Earwigs regularly feed on aphids.
Tomato Hornworms grow up to become 5
Spotted Hawk Moths. They only feed on
solanaceous plants such as tomatoes,
eggplants, peppers and wild nightshades.
They will quickly defoliate the leaves of a
host plant, leaving behind tell-tale
droppings.
Of particular concern is the Marmorated
Stink Bug. This stink bug originated in Asia
and has become an agricultural pest in the
US. It mainly attacks fruit crops but will
also feed on vegetables. It uses its piercing
mouth parts to feed on young fruit. Look
for a white band on the antenna to properly
distinguish this from other native stink
bugs. When in doubt, take your sample to
the Master Gardener Diagnosis Clinic.
Another insect with sucking mouth parts, Thrips can
spread over 20 different viral diseases between
plants. Some Thrips species are beneficial and either
pollinate plants or eat other garden pests like mites.
Predatory wasps are the best known control method
for Thrips outbreaks.
Leafhoppers feed on plant sap using
their sucking mouth parts.
They are especially common pets of
grapes. Lacewings are a common
predator of leaf hoppers.
Cabbage moth larvae are also known as ‘loopers’.
They are the gross little green caterpillars you will
find hiding in your cabbage, broccoli and kale plants.
There are several moth species that lay their eggs on
the undersides of brassica leaves.
Cutworms hide under the top ¼” of the soil
surface during the day and emerge to feed at
night. Cutworms can decimate an entire row
of seedlings within a matter of days.
Parasitizing wasps and flies (plus birds) are
their greatest natural enemies.
Spider Mites thrive in dry, dusty
conditions. They feed by using their
sucking mouth parts to remove the inner
soft tissue from plant leaves. Natural
enemies include lacewings, ladybugs,
pirate bugs and various predatory thrips.
All parts of the Mallow are
edible. The leaves are high in
calcium, magnesium, potassium,
iron, selenium and vitamins A
and C. When cooked, they are
used as a thickening agent
similar to tapioca.
Claytonia can be eaten raw and is
a great addition to salads. It
grows wild within Central
Washington and is one of the first
greens to emerge in the spring.
Lamb’s Quarter is high in vitamins A and C. It
can be used as a substitute for spinach. The
baby leaves are the best for fresh eating.
Purslane can be eaten raw, steamed
or lightly stir fried. It has a mild,
lemony flavor. Purslane is high in
protein, vitamins E and C, beta
carotene, magnesium, potassium,
phosphorus, riboflavin and omega-3
fatty acids.
Young Amaranth leaves can be
used as a spinach substitute.
Dried leaves can be used for tea.
The small seed can be roasted
and ground or sprouted. It is very
nutritious but should not be
consumed excessively since the
leaves contain oxalic acid and
nitrates.
Yes, Dandelions are important! They
are one of the first available pollen
sources in the spring. There are a
number of medicinal properties in
Dandelions that improve bone health,
treat liver disorders, diabetes and
urinary tract issues. The sap from
dandelions can be used in treating skin
ailments and acne.
The leaves are high in vitamins K, A, E
and C, calcium, manganese, iron,
potassium and Luteolin.
http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/classes-of-noxious-weeds
http://extension.wsu.edu/benton-franklin/wpcontent/uploads/sites/27/2014/04/Beneficial-Insects-SpidersCreatures-in-Garden-EM067E.pdf