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How to Manage Pests

Identification: Natural Enemies Gallery—Listed by Scientific Name

Cover of Natural Enemies Handbook
For more information about natural enemies, purchase this UC IPM book.
Predators
Insect parasites (parasitoids)

The UC IPM Natural Enemies Gallery includes natural enemy species commonly found on California farms and in landscapes. Additional species will be added over time.

Natural enemies are organisms that kill, decrease the reproductive potential, or otherwise reduce the numbers of another organism. Natural enemies that limit pests are key components of integrated pest management programs. Important natural enemies of insect and mite pests include predators, parasites, and pathogens.

Predators: A predator is an organism that attacks, kills, and feeds on several to many other individuals (its prey) in its lifetime.
Scientific name Common name
Aphidoletes aphidimyza Predaceous midge or aphid midge
Anthocoris spp. Minute pirate bugs
Cantharidae family Soldier beetles, leather-winged beetles
Carabidae family Predaceous ground beetles
Chilocorus orbus Twicestabbed lady beetle
Chrysopa spp. Green lacewings
Chrysoperla spp. Green lacewings
Coccinella septempunctataSevenspotted lady beetle
Conwentzia barretti Dustywing
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mealybug destroyer
Euseius tularensis Euseius tularensis
Galendromus occidentalis Western predatory mite
Geocoris spp. Bigeyed bugs
Harmonia axyridis Multicolored Asian lady beetle
Hemerobius spp. Brown lacewings
Hippodamia convergens Convergent lady beetle
Mantidae family Mantids, praying mantids

Nabis spp.

Damsel bugs
Orius spp. Minute pirate bugs
Phytoseiulus persimilis Phytoseiulus persimilis
Reduviidae family Assassin bugs
Rodolia cardinalis Vedalia beetle
Rumina decollata Decollate snail
Scolothrips sexmaculatus Sixspotted thrips
Sinea diadema Spined assassin bug
Stethorus picipes Spider mite destroyer lady beetle
Syrphidae family Syrphid flies
Zelus renardii Leafhopper assassin bug
Insect parasites (parasitoids): Larval stages of insect parasites feed on or inside of other insects, killing their hosts. Adults are free-living wasps or flies.
Scientific name Common name
Anaphes iole, Anaphes nitens, and other Anaphes spp. Anaphes species
Aphidius spp. Aphidius species
Aphytis spp. Aphytis spp., armored scale parasites
Bracon cushmani Bracon cushmani, grape leaffolder parasite
Cotesia medicaginis Cotesia medicaginis, alfalfa butterfly parasite
Cryptochaetum iceryae Cottony cushion scale parasite
Encarsia formosa Encarsia formosa, whitefly parasite
Erynniopsis antennata Elm leaf beetle parasite
Hyposoter exiguae Hyposoter exiguae, caterpillar parasite
Leptomastix dactylopii Citrus mealybug parasite
Lysiphlebus testaceipes Lysiphlebus testaceipes, aphid parasite
Tachinidae family Tachinid flies
Trioxys pallidus Trioxys pallidus, walnut aphid parasite
Trichogramma spp. Trichogramma spp., egg parasites

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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2007 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/NE/natenemiesscientific.html revised: August 22, 2007. Contact webmaster.