Beneficial Insects

Long before modern pesticides, scientists discovered that every pest in nature has a natural enemy — and ladybugs proved the point dramatically when they rescued California's citrus industry from collapse in the early 1900s. That breakthrough idea, bugs fighting bugs the way nature intended, laid the foundation for the sustainable pest control practices still used today. Since the 1980s, NaturesGoodGuys has carried that tradition forward, supplying beneficial insects to gardeners, farmers, and growers across all 48 continental states. Releasing ladybugs isn't just effective pest control — it's joining a community of growers committed to reducing pesticide use, supporting pollinators, and restoring natural balance to gardens and farms.

Beneficial nematodes are a powerful natural pest control tool, but their effectiveness depends on what else you're applying in your garden. This reference guide breaks down which common garden chemicals are fully compatible with nematodes, which require a one-week waiting period before introducing them, and which need two weeks to clear before it's safe to apply. When in doubt, checking the active ingredients on your product label, and cross-referencing this list, can make the difference between a successful application and a wasted one.

View or download the product label for every NaturesGoodGuys beneficial, with target pests, introduction rates and application tips.

Clothes moths may be small, but their larvae can do serious damage to natural fiber, and traditional fixes like mothballs don't always get to the root of the problem. Trichogramma are tiny parasitic wasps that work by locating moth eggs and laying their own eggs inside them, stopping larvae before they ever hatch. So tiny that five adults fit on a pencil tip, they don't feed on fabrics, leave no chemical residue, and are trusted by museums to protect antique textiles. Place the egg cards in closets, drawers and storage spaces weekly during moth flight season for a gradual decline in moth activity. They also work outdoors against over 200 species of caterpillars and moths in the garden.

Applying beneficial nematodes is simpler than it sounds, and this post makes it even easier with step-by-step video guides for visual learners. Whether you're working with a hose-end sprayer for larger areas or a watering can for smaller spaces and indoor plants, the videos walk you through the process from start to finish to ensure your nematodes get applied correctly and effectively.

Getting beneficial nematodes into the soil correctly makes all the difference in how well they perform. This post points gardeners to NaturesGoodGuys' Beneficial Nematode YouTube playlist, which covers how to apply nematodes using a variety of methods, including hose-end sprayers for larger lawns and garden beds, and watering cans for smaller or indoor applications. A helpful starting point for anyone new to using nematodes for natural pest control.

That red beetle in your garden might not be the native ladybug you think it is. This detailed identification guide walks you through the three most common lady beetle species in North America: the native convergent lady beetle with its distinctive converging white lines, the seven-spotted lady beetle introduced from Europe with its perfectly consistent seven spots, and the highly variable Asian lady beetle identifiable by the black "M" or "W" marking on its pronotum. While all three are effective pest predators, the introduced species can outcompete native ladybugs over time. The post also covers tips for attracting natives to your garden through plant diversity, and answers to the most frequently asked questions about lady beetle identification and behavior.

Cooler fall temperatures may slow some pests down, but they don't eliminate them, and as long as pests are active, beneficial insects can still do their job. This post highlights four of the best beneficial insects to deploy in the fall garden: green lacewing larvae for tackling aphids, mites, and whiteflies on cool-weather crops; ladybugs for a last push against aphids and scale insects before winter; Trichogramma for controlling caterpillars and moths both in the garden and indoors; and beneficial nematodes for targeting soil-dwelling pests like grubs and fungus gnat larvae below the surface. A fall release not only protects your current harvest but helps set up a healthier garden come spring.!

Ladybugs are one of the most beginner-friendly tools in organic pest control, eating up to 50 aphids a day. This guide covers why ladybugs work, how to make your garden ladybug-friendly with shelter and water, their lifecycle from larva to adult, and pro tips for monitoring pests and planning follow-ups.

Predatory mites are highly effective at controlling spider mites and thrips, but applying the wrong chemical at the wrong time can wipe them out before they even get started. This comprehensive reference guide breaks down chemical compatibility by specific predatory mite species — Swirskii, Andersoni, Californicus, Cucumeris, Persimilis, and Hypoaspis Miles — listing which active ingredients can be used safely alongside each one, and which require a minimum two-week waiting period before introducing mites. As always, checking the active ingredients on product labels (rather than trade names) is the key to using this guide accurately.

Learn how green lacewings and their “aphid lion” larvae control aphids, whiteflies and other soft-bodied pests, with practical tips for choosing the right life stage and using lacewings in gardens, greenhouses and houseplants.