Beneficial Profiles

Beneficial Profiles

Beneficial insects are an important tool to help combat insecticide resistance

Beneficial insects play a vital biological control role in many cropping systems and assist in keeping pest populations in check. Beneficial insects can be encouraged by better targeting and reducing insecticide applications, as well as providing alternate food sources and refuge habitat on farms. This guide is designed to assist growers identify some of the most commonly observed beneficial insects found across the southern grain cropping regions and provide information on each groups biology, pests attacked, and the toxicity of common chemical actives.

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Locally occuring parasitoids can be highly effective at suppressing pest populations, and there is a wide diversity of parasitoids that target the caterpillars of lepidoptera (moths and butterflies). ...

Lepidopteran larval parasitoids

Order: Hymenoptera

Specialist

Specialists parasitise or predate on a restricted range of pest insects.

Transient

Transient beneficials move in and out of crops, often following pests, and can more readily re-establish after pesticide applications.

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Rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) are a diverse group of beetles with elongated bodies, typically black or dark brown. They possess prominent forward projecting chewing mouthparts that are adapted f...

Rove beetles

Family: Staphylinidae

Generalist

Generalist predators parasitise or predate on a diverse range of pest insects.

Resident

Resident beneficials have more limited dispersal capabilities and may take longer to re-establish after pesticide exposure.

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Aphid parasitoids are small wasps, typically measuring 2-5 mm in length, with a slender body and distinctive narrow waist. They are commonly black or brown in colour. In Australia, various families o...

Aphid parasitoids

Order: Hymenoptera

Specialist

Specialists parasitise or predate on a restricted range of pest insects.

Transient

Transient beneficials move in and out of crops, often following pests, and can more readily re-establish after pesticide applications.

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There are at least six groups of spiders that are commonly found in grains crops. These include the wolf, huntsman, trapdoor, jewel, flower and jumping spiders. Most species live more than one year, w...

Spiders

Order: Araneae

Generalist

Generalist predators parasitise or predate on a diverse range of pest insects.

Resident

Resident beneficials have more limited dispersal capabilities and may take longer to re-establish after pesticide exposure.

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Hoverflies (Syrphidae sp) are a family of flies. They are characterized by their ability to hover in mid-air before quickly changing direction, hence their name. Adult hoverflies are 4-10 mm long, ha...

Hoverflies

Syrphidae sp.

Generalist

Generalist predators parasitise or predate on a diverse range of pest insects.

Transient

Transient beneficials move in and out of crops, often following pests, and can more readily re-establish after pesticide applications.

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Ladybird adults are small, brightly coloured beetles with a rounded, dome-shaped body. The most commonly recognized ladybird species have red wing cases (elytra) with varying numbers of dark spots. Va...

Ladybird beetles

Family: Coccinellidae

Generalist

Generalist predators parasitise or predate on a diverse range of pest insects.

Transient

Transient beneficials move in and out of crops, often following pests, and can more readily re-establish after pesticide applications.

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Predatory bugs belong to the family Hemiptera or true bugs. This group includes many pest insects, but there are also many important beneficial insects. Some species are quite small, measuring a few m...

Predatory bugs

Order: Hemiptera

Generalist

Generalist predators parasitise or predate on a diverse range of pest insects.

Transient

Transient beneficials move in and out of crops, often following pests, and can more readily re-establish after pesticide applications.

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Locally occuring parasitoids can be highly effective at suppressing pest populations, and there is a wide diversity of parasitoids that target the eggs of lepidoptera (moths and butterflies). In Aust...

Lepidopteran egg parasitoids

Order: Hymenoptera

Specialist

Specialists parasitise or predate on a restricted range of pest insects.

Transient

Transient beneficials move in and out of crops, often following pests, and can more readily re-establish after pesticide applications.

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Predatory mites are a diverse group of small arthropods, between 0.2 to 3 millimeters in length, depending on the species. The body shape may vary slightly depending on the species, but they are gener...

Predatory mites

Generalist

Generalist predators parasitise or predate on a diverse range of pest insects.

Resident

Resident beneficials have more limited dispersal capabilities and may take longer to re-establish after pesticide exposure.

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Lacewings have elongated, slender bodies with prominent, bulging eyes. They measure 1 to 3 centimeters in length, varying by species. Their transparent wings have a delicate, net-like pattern resembli...

Lacewings

Family: Chrysopidae / Hemerobiidae

Generalist

Generalist predators parasitise or predate on a diverse range of pest insects.

Transient

Transient beneficials move in and out of crops, often following pests, and can more readily re-establish after pesticide applications.