Natural enemies are organisms that kill, decrease reproduction, or otherwise reduce the numbers of another organism. Natural enemies that limit pests are key components of integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Important natural enemies of insect and mite pests include predators, parasitoids (parasites), and pathogens. For more information about natural enemies, purchase the Natural Enemies Handbook.

The Natural Enemies Gallery includes natural enemy species commonly found on California farms and in landscapes. To narrow down the list, enter the name of your pest or natural enemy in the search bar.

List of Natural Enemies

Type Common name Scientific name Family Order Class Phylum Pest
Predators Aphid flies Chamaemyiidae family Chamaemyiidae Diptera: true flies Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Adelgids, aphids, mealybugs, scales
Predators Aphid midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza Cecidomyiidae Diptera: true flies Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids
Predators Ashy gray lady beetle (ladybug) Olla v-nigrum =O. abdominalis Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, psyllids, whiteflies
Predators Assassin bugs Reduviidae family Reduviidae Hemiptera: True bugs Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Beetles, bugs, caterpillars, sawflies
Predators Bigeyed bugs Geocoridae family Geocoridae Hemiptera: True bugs Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, bugs, caterpillars, insect eggs, mites, whiteflies
Predators Brown lacewings Hemerobiidae family Hemerobiidae Neuroptera: Net-winged insects Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, bugs, caterpillars, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, psyllids, scales, thrips, whiteflies
Predators Damsel bugs Nabis spp. Nabidae Hemiptera: True bugs Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, beetles, bugs, caterpillars, mites, thrips
Predators Decollate snail Rumina decollata Subulinidae Stylommatophora Gastropoda: Gastropods Mollusca: Mollusks Brown garden snail
Predators Dustywings Coniopterygidae family Coniopterygidae Neuroptera: Net-winged insects Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, insect eggs, mealybugs, mites, psyllids, scales, whiteflies
Predators Euseius predatory mites Euseius spp. Phytoseiidae Acari: Mites Arachnida: Arachnids Arthropoda: Arthropods Mites, scales, thrips, whiteflies
Predators Fungus-feeding lady beetles (ladybugs) Psyllobora vigintimaculata and other Psyllobora spp. Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Powdery mildew
Predators Green lacewings Chrysopidae family Chrysopidae Neuroptera: Net-winged insects Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, bugs, caterpillars, leafhoppers, mealybugs, psyllids, scales, thrips
Predators Lady beetle (ladybug) Axion plagiatum Axion plagiatum Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, psyllids, scales
Predators Lady beetle (ladybug) Chilocorus bipustulatus Chilocorus bipustulatus Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Scales
Predators Lady beetle (ladybug) Chilocorus kuwanae Chilocorus kuwanae Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Scales
Predators Lady beetle (ladybug) Clitostethus arcuatus Clitostethus arcuatus Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Whiteflies
Predators Lady beetles (ladybugs) genus Delphastus Delphastus catalinae and other Delphastus spp. Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Whiteflies
Predators Lady beetles (ladybugs) genus Rhizobius Rhyzobius (=Rhizobius) forestieri and R. lophanthae Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Scales
Predators Mantids Mantidae family Mantidae Mantodea: Mantid Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods  
Predators Mealybug destroyer Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, mealybugs, scales
Predators Minute pirate bugs Anthocoridae family Anthocoridae Hemiptera: True bugs Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, bugs, caterpillars, insect eggs, mites, psyllids, thrips, whiteflies
Predators Mite midges Feltiella spp. Cecidomyiidae Diptera: true flies Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Mites
Predators Multicolored Asian lady beetle (ladybug) Harmonia axyridis Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Adelgids, aphids, psyllids, scales
Neoseiulus Predatory Mites Neoseiulus (=Amblyseius) californicus and other Neoseiulus spp. Phytoseiidae Acari: Mites Arachnida: Arachnids Arthropoda: Arthropods Mites, thrips
Predators Phytoseiulus predatory mites Phytoseiulus spp. Phytoseiidae Acari: Mites Arachnida: Arachnids Arthropoda: Arthropods Mites
Predators Pink spotted lady beetle (ladybug) Coleomegilla maculata Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, insect eggs, mites
Predators Polished lady beetle (ladybug) Cycloneda munda Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids
Predators Praying mantises Mantidae family Mantidae Mantodea: Mantid Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods  
Predators Predaceous ground beetles Carabidae family Carabidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Beetles, Brown garden snail, caterpillars, millipedes
Predators Predatory thrips Aeolothrips spp. Aeolothripidae Thysanoptera: Thrips Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Thrips
Predators Predatory thrips Franklinothrips orizabensis and F. vespiformis Aeolothripidae Thysanoptera: Thrips Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Mites, thrips, whiteflies
Predators Rough stink bugs Brochymena sulcata and other Brochymena spp. Pentatomidae Heteroptera: True bugs Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Beetles, caterpillars, sawflies
Predators Sevenspotted lady beetle (ladybug) Coccinella septempunctata Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, beetles, mealybugs, psyllids, whiteflies
Predators Sixspotted thrips Scolothrips sexmaculatus Thripidae Thysanoptera: Thrips Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Mites
Predators Soldier beetles Cantharidae family Cantharidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, insect eggs
Predators Spider mite destroyer lady beetle (ladybug) Stethorus picipes Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Mites
Predators Spider mite rove beetle Oligota oviformis Staphylinidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Mites
Predators Spiders Araneae order Aranae: Spiders Arachnida: Arachnids Arthropoda: Arthropods Beetles, bugs, caterpillars, cockroaches, leafhoppers, psyllids, whiteflies
Predators Spined soldier bug Podisus maculiventris Pentatomidae Heteroptera: True bugs Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Beetles, caterpillars, sawflies
Predators Spotless lady beetle (ladybug) Cycloneda sanguinea Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids
Predators Steelblue lady beetle (ladybug) Halmus chalybeus Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Scales
Predators Syrphid flies Syrphidae family Syrphidae Diptera: true flies Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, mealybugs
Predators Twicestabbed lady beetle (ladybug) Chilocorus orbus Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, mealybugs, scales
Predators Twospotted lady beetle (ladybug) Adalia bipunctata Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Adelgids, aphids, psyllids
Predators Twospotted stink bug Perillus bioculatus Pentatomidae Heteroptera: True bugs Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Beetles, caterpillars, sawflies
Predators Vedalia beetle Novius (=Rodolia) cardinalis Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Mealybugs, scales
Predators Western blood-red lady beetle (ladybug) Cycloneda polita Coccinellidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids
Predators Western predatory mite Galendromus occidentalis Phytoseiidae Acari: Mites Arachnida: Arachnids Arthropoda: Arthropods Mites
Predators Whirligig mites, predatory mites Anystis agilis and A. baccarum Anystidae Acari: Mites Arachnida: Arachnids Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids, leafhoppers, mites, psyllids, thrips
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Alfalfa caterpillar Cotesia parasitoid Cotesia (=Apanteles) medicaginis Braconidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Caterpillars
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Anaphes egg parasitoids Anaphes iole, Anaphes nitens, and other Anaphes spp. Mymaridae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Insect eggs, bugs
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Aphid Aphidius parasitoids Aphidius colemani, A. ervi, A. matricariae, and other Aphidius spp. Aphidiidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Aphid Diaeretiella parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae Aphidiidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Aphid Lysiphlebus parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes Aphidiidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Armored scale Encarsia parasitoid Encarsia perniciosi Aphelinidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Scales
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Ash whitefly Encarsia parasitoid Encarsia inaron =E. partenopea Aphelinidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Whiteflies
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Asian citrus psyllid Tamarixia parasitoid Tamarixia radiata Eulophidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Psyllids
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Bluegum psyllid Psyllaephagus parasitoid Psyllaephagus pilosus Encyrtidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Psyllids
Insect parasitoids (parasites) California red scale Aphytis parasitoid Aphytis melinus Aphelinidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Scales
Insect parasitoids (parasites) California red scale Comperiella parasitoid Comperiella bifasciata Encyrtidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Scales
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Caterpillar Copidosoma parasitoids Copidosoma (=Copidosomopsis =Pentalitomastix) plethoricum =C. plethorica, C. truncatellum, and other Copidosoma spp. Encyrtidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Caterpillars
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Caterpillar Goniozus parasitoids Goniozus legneri and other Goniozus spp. Bethylidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Caterpillars
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Caterpillar Hyposoter parasitoid Hyposoter exiguae Ichneumonidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Caterpillars
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Cottony cushion scale Cryptochaetum parasitoid Cryptochaetum iceryae Cryptochaetidae Diptera: true flies Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Scales
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Elm leaf beetle Erynniopsis parasitoid Erynniopsis antennata Tachinidae Diptera: true flies Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Beetles
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Elm leaf beetle Oomyzus parasitoid Oomyzus (=Tetrastichus) gallerucae Eulophidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Beetles
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Giant whitefly parasitoids Encarsia (=Encarsiella) noyesi, Entedononecremnus krauteri, and Idioporus affinis Aphelinidae, Eulophidae, and Pteromalidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Whiteflies
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Glassy-winged sharpshooter Cosmocomoidea parasitoids Cosmocomoidea (=Gonatocerus) ashmeadi and other Cosmocomoidea spp. Mymaridae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Leafhoppers, sharpshooters
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Goldspotted oak borer Calosota parasitoid Calosota elongata Eupelmidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Beetles
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Grape leaffolder Habrobracon parasitoid Habrobracon (=Bracon) cushmani Braconidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Caterpillars
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Greenhouse thrips Thripoctenus parasitoid Thripoctenus javae =Thripobius semiluteus Eulophidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Thrips
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Leafhopper Anagrus parasitoids Anagrus daanei, A. epos, A. erythroneurae, and other Anagrus spp. Mymaridae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Leafhoppers
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Leafminer Diglyphus parasitoids Diglyphus begini, D. isaea, and other Diglyphus spp. Eulophidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Leafminers
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Mealybug Acerophagus parasitoids Acerophagus (=Pseudaphycus) notativentris, A. maculipennis, and other Acerophagus spp. Encyrtidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Mealybugs
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Mealybug Anagyrus parasitoids Anagyrus fusciventris, A. kamali, A. pseudococci, and other Anagyrus spp. Encyrtidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Mealybugs
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Mealybug Leptomastix parasitoid Leptomastix dactylopii Encyrtidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Mealybugs
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Purple scale Aphytis parasitoid Aphytis lepidosaphes Aphelinidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Scales
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Redgum lerp psyllid Psyllaephagus parasitoid Psyllaephagus bliteus Encyrtidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Psyllids
Insect parasitoids (parasites) San Jose scale Aphytis parasitoid Aphytis aonidiae Aphelinidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Scales
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Scale insect Metaphycus parasitoids Metaphycus flavus, M. luteolus, M. helvolus, and other Metaphycus spp. Encyrtidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Scales
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Scale insects Coccophagus parasitoid Coccophagus lycimnia =C. lecanii Aphelinidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Scales
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Stink bug Trissolcus parasitoids Trissolcus basalis, T. euschisti, and other Trissolcus species Scelionidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Bugs
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Tachinid flies Erynnia, Erynniopsis, Trichopoda, and Voria species and other Tachinidae Tachinidae Diptera: true flies Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Beetles, bugs, caterpillars, crickets, earwigs, flies, grasshoppers
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Trichogramma parasitoids Trichogramma spp. Trichogrammatidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Insect eggs
Insect parasitoids (parasites) True bug Trichopoda parasitoid Trichopoda pennipes Tachinidae Diptera: true flies Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Bugs
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Walnut aphid Trioxys parasitoid Trioxys pallidus Aphidiidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Aphids
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Western flower thrips Ceranisus parasitoid Ceranisus menes Eulophidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Thrips
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Whitefly Cales parasitoid Cales noacki Aphelinidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Whiteflies
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Whitefly Encarsia formosa parasitoid Encarsia formosa Aphelinidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Whiteflies
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Whitefly Encarsia pergandiella parasitoid Encarsia pergandiella Aphelinidae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Whiteflies
Insect parasitoids (parasites) Woolly whitefly Amitus parasitoid Amitus spiniferus Platygastridae Hymenoptera Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Whiteflies
Weed herbivores Cochineal scales of prickly pear cacti Dactylopius spp. Dactylopiidae Hemiptera: True bugs Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Weeds
Weed herbivores Klamathweed beetle Chrysolina quadrigemina Chrysomelidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Weeds
Weed herbivores Puncturevine weevils Microlarinus lareynii and M. lypriformis Curculionidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Weeds
Weed herbivores Tamarisk beetles Diorhabda elongata and other Diorhabda spp. Chrysomelidae Coleoptera: Beetles Insecta: Insects Arthropoda: Arthropods Weeds

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