Within the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's website, wildlfower.org, lives the Native Plants of North America plant database. Here, one can search for native plants and find a wealth of knowledge on that plant, from native distribution to growing conditions, and much more. In the benefits section, we have partnered with the Xerces Society to indicate when a plant supports certain insects. Some plants have special benefits to native bees or bumblebees, and some plants support conservation biological control in the garden. They play a vital role in integrated pest management, by simply attracting predatory insects that prey upon the damaging pest insects. Therefore, any plant with this label will be a plant that supports and attracts good garden insects. One can find these in our recommended species list labeled Supports Conservation Biological Control, under plants for pollinators at https://www.wildflower.org/plants-main.
As the owner of a landscaping company, I consider several factors when selecting beneficial insectary plants for integrated pest management. I look for plants that will attract predatory insects, like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps, which prey on common garden pests. Plants with small flowers, like yarrow, mint, tansy and fennel, attract these beneficials. I also consider the habitat and lifecycle requirements of the predatory insects. Some need pollen, nectar or habitat for larvae. For example, we recently installed insectary plants like lavender, catnip and oregano around the perimeter of a commercial site. These provided habitat and food sources for predatory insects. Within a month, the aphid population was controlled without any pesticide application. The business owner was thrilled with this sustainable solution. I have found that a diverse selection of insectary plants leads to the greatest diversity of predatory insects. Rather than a monoculture, incorporating a variety of plants with different bloom times ensures predatory insects have access to food sources throughout the growing season. The predatory insects then keep pest populations in check, allowing us to avoid or minimize pesticide use. An established insectary planting requires little maintenance but provides effective natural pest control.
When opting for an integrated pest management system in our e-commerce venture, a crucial step involved selecting an effective insectary plant. Our goal was to attract natural predators to aid in organic pest control. We began by identifying plants renowned for attracting beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps. Given our warehouse-centric operations, we focused on low-maintenance indoor plants like marigolds and sweet alyssum. Consulting with a local horticulturist specialising in indoor flora confirmed their suitability and offered care insights. Strategically placing these plants near pest-prone areas such as storage racks yielded promising results within weeks, reducing pest activity and fostering plant growth seamlessly.