A single predator will kill and eat many prey during its life. Common predators include adult and immature forms of lady bugs, immature lacewings, immature syrphid or hover flies, adult and immature assassin bugs, adult and immature damsel bugs, and some kinds of stink bugs. In addition, praying mantids, spiders and predatory mites are also predators. Attracting beneficials to your garden involves 3 main steps. Provide food sources for times when pest populations are low.
Many predators feed on pollen and nectar at such times.
Provide areas in the yard that are not generally disturbed in order to give them shelter. Provide a source of water. To encourage beneficials, it is best to avoid unnecessary insecticide applications and to avoid treating pests if beneficials are present and active. The key to not treating when beneficials are present is to learn to recognize the eggs, immature stages, and adult beneficials.