Mail-Order Insects: Bugging the Bad Bugs By Teodorico R. Magda teodoricomagda@yahoo.com In the Philippines, some farmers
have started learning to keep some good bugs to drive away the bad bugs that destroy their crops. And with the introduction of integrated pest management, farmers are advised not to destroy beneficial insects that check the harmful ones. And with the increasing popularity of organic gardening, more and more gardeners prefer to add more good bugs to their gardens. Some predatory insects are available in some research institutes like IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) and the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. Meanwhile, in the U.S.A., some mail-order shops offer good bugs to organic gardeners who prefer non-toxic way of controlling garden pests. A supplier in Indiana, for
instance, offers 900 pieces of ladybugs for $13.99. A certain David Yost, a garden specialist, has reported a rise in sales of the choice ladybugs. Besides, a noticeable increase in sales of other
predators such as slugs, parasitic wasps, and preying mantis, has been observed. The increasing popularity of the predatory insects depends much on the insects’ characteristics. The preying mantis for instance, is noted for its voracious feeding habit, as it feeds on anything at fist sight. Wasps, on the other hand, parasitize some common insects in the garden such as caterpillar, flies, and even beetle larvae. Other non-insect predators offered in mail-order shops include threadworms or nematodes, which are harmless to human but deadly to insects such as borers and armyworms. If a particular garden is conducive to predators while food bugs abound, one can expect that good insects will stay serving much for a longer time.