Beneficial Bugs

Ichneumon wasps are very large and are beneficial insects. They are long (4-5cm) black or other assorted colours, with very long antennae. 

Adult Ichneumon Wasp-T. C. Nature

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Dung beetles are another beneficial insect. They range in size from small to large and are usually black, brown, blue or red. They have two powerful back legs with teeth on them to assist in making dung balls. 

Dung beetles-BBC Education

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Lacewings are around 13 mm long (some species are longer) and usually green or brown. There are at least 25 different species of lacewings in Canada. Another beneficial insect and a must in every garden. 

Green Lacewings-Kunafin (left), Brown Lacewing (right)-Home and Garden Information center

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Fireflies are not really flies but are members of the beetle family and are beneficial. They are small (2cm), brownish black and have hard wings. 

Firefliy (left), Firefly (right)- J.E. Llloyd, University of Florida

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Ladybugs are small oval beetles, red or orange with small black markings. The length depends on the species 4-6mm. They are a beneficial insect for every garden.

Lady Bugs (left)-Odonals Nursuries, Ladybugs (right)-Charles W. Melton

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Praying mantids are 6 to 7.5cm long and usually green and have very long front legs. They have extremely strong mandibles and have been known to bite humans. When they are full grown they have wings. 

Praying Mantid (left), Praying mantid in Texas-Texas A&M (right)

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Ant lions are small (1.5cm) insets that devour ants! They are brown and have huge jaws. They are also called Doodlebugs. I have even seen these guys walk backwards! This bug is the coolest bug I have ever witnessed!

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There are several thousand species of assassin bugs found worldwide. They range in colour from brown, black and orange and measuring 2-4 cm long. Their bodies are usually long and thin. 

Assassin bug (left), Brown Assassin bug (right)-photo Midwest Biological Control News

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Crawfish (Crayfish, Crawdads) have a long segmented tail with 4 or 5 pairs of walking legs, antenae and two large pincers, and look like mini lobsters. They can range in colour from green, yellow, pink and sometimes red.

Photo Purdue U-Peggy Sellers(left), photo marsbunny (right)

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Crab spiders are small, (about 5mm) white, yellowy or gray and have crablike legs. They blend in with the environment they choose to patrol. They are not insects but arachnids. 

Crab Spider-Ed Nieuwenhuys (left), Crab Spider-University of Minnesota (right)
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