Integrated Pest Management is a system for manipulating plant pests, which usually includes insects, diseases and weeds, to keep them below economic thresholds. In contrast to conventional chemical controls, IPM uses ecologically sound management tactics. For an overview of IPM and a detailed list of IPM techniques, visit Washington State University's Integrated Pest Management link. Beneficial Insects Not all insects are pests. In fact, many insects are considered benefical in the garden because they control populations of destructive insects.
Beneficial insects help pollinate flowers.
Some beneficals are predatory, meaning they are larger and more active than their prey, and some beneficial insects are parisitoids, becoming parasitic or living off of other insects. Most of this family are predaceous both as larvae and adults and feed chiefly on aphids. They are frequently found on foliage were aphids are numerous. They hibernate as adults, commonly under leaves and debris in large aggregations. The larvae are long, alligator-like, agressive predators with black, gray, or bluish coloration and contrasting yellow, red or orange bands or spots.