Natural enemies
Natural enemies attack and feed on other animals. Some predators and many parasites are quite specialized
and confine their feeding to only one or a few closely related species, whereas a general predator feeds
on a wide variety of prey. Trichogramma and Apanteles parasites can help control looper populations.
General predators are very important in gardens and small farms with a diversity of crops and potential
pests. Because they subsist on a variety of insects and mites, general predators will often be present
in the garden before serious pests arrive and will be able to provide immediate assistance in their control.
Some of the most common general predators are green
lacewings, damsel bugs, assassin
bugs, bigeyed bugs, minute
pirate bugs, soldier
beetles, ground
beetles, and spiders. | 
Adult
of the parasite Apanteles
Looper
parasitized with Apanteles larvae
|
