We thank Dr. John Obrycki of Iowa State University for reviewing this article. Although predators of insects include such things as birds, rodents, and frogs, all of which are important in natural regulation of many types of insects, the most important predators in pest management are other insects, spiders and predatory mites. Predators can be predacious as immatures, as adults, or both, depending on type. Predators are often generalist natural enemies although a few types are specialized. Various terms are used to describe feeding tendencies.
Host range refers to the set of species that can serve as prey for a predator.
No predator attacks all types of insects in a given area, and those that it does attack often share certain characteristics that may be as simple as general size range and capturability. The life histories of very few species of predators have ever been studied in sufficient detail to adequately categorize the host range. But the studies that have been conducted provide insight into the factors that influence host range. Aspects of predator life history that influence host range include foraging behavior, feeding habits, egg-laying decisions, and development of offspring. The process of locating and accepting prey is called host selection .