Predators eat or kill one or more insect pest directly.
Parasites complete their life cycles living off a host, destroying it in the process.
Today there are nearly 100 mail-order companies in the U.S. either producing or selling several dozen species of predatory and parasitic insects. Don't go to your garden center and reach for that quick fix chemical. Educate yourself about the natural systems occurring in your yard. Plants respond to a natural and balanced environment free from chemicals, developing stronger root systems, and resistance to pests. The local bird population will reward your efforts by eating insects that feed on your vegetable plants.