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Statewide IPM Program, University of California

Natural enemies gallery

Listed by scientific name

Cover of Natural Enemies Handbook

Natural enemies are organisms that kill, decrease the reproductive potential of, or otherwise reduce the numbers of another organism. Natural enemies that limit pests are key components of integrated pest management programs. Important natural enemies of insect and mite pests include predators, parasitoids (parasites), and pathogens.

The UC IPM Natural Enemies Gallery includes natural enemy species commonly found on California farms and in landscapes. Additional species will be added over time.

For more information about natural enemies, purchase the Natural Enemies Handbook also available as an ePub.

Predators

A predator is an organism that attacks, kills, and feeds on several to many other individuals (its prey) during its lifetime.
Scientific name Common name
Adalia bipunctata Twospotted lady beetle (ladybug)
Aeolothrips spp. Predatory thrips
Anthocoridae Family Minute pirate bugs
Anystis agilis and A. baccarum Whirligig mites, predatory mites
Aphidoletes aphidimyza Aphid midge, predaceous midge
Araneae order Spiders
Axion plagiatum Lady beetle (ladybug)
Brochymena sulcata and other Brochymena spp. Rough stink bugs
Cantharidae Family Soldier beetles
Carabidae Family Predaceous ground beetles
Chilocorus bipustulatus Lady beetle (ladybug)
Chilocorus kuwanae Lady beetle (ladybug)
Chilocorus orbus Twicestabbed lady beetle (ladybug)
Chrysopidae Family Green lacewings
Clitostethus arcuatus Lady beetle (ladybug)
Coccinella septempunctata Sevenspotted lady beetle (ladybug)
Coleomegilla maculata Pink spotted lady beetle (ladybug)
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mealybug destroyer
Cycloneda munda Polished lady beetle (ladybug)
Cycloneda polita Western blood-red lady beetle (ladybug)
Cycloneda sanguinea Spotless lady beetle (ladybug)
Delphastus catalinae and other Delphastus spp. Lady beetles (ladybugs)
Franklinothrips orizabensis and F. vespiformis Predatory thrips
Galendromus occidentalis Western predatory mite
Geocoridae Family Bigeyed bugs
Halmus chalybeus Steelblue lady beetle (ladybug)
Harmonia axyridis Multicolored Asian lady beetle (ladybug)
Hemerobiidae Family Brown lacewings
Hippodamia convergens Convergent lady beetle (ladybug)
Mantidae Family Mantids, praying mantids
Nabidae Family Damsel bugs
Novius (=Rodolia) cardinalis Vedalia beetle
Olla v-nigrum =O. abdominalis Ashy gray lady beetle (ladybug)
Perillus bioculatus Twospotted stink bug
Phytoseiulus persimilis Predatory mite
Podisus maculiventris Spined soldier bug
Psyllobora vigintimaculata and other Psyllobora spp. Lady beetles (ladybugs)
Reduviidae Family Assassin bugs
Rhyzobius (=Rhizobius) forestieri and R. lophanthae Lady beetles (ladybugs)
Rumina decollata Decollate snail
Scolothrips sexmaculatus Sixspotted thrips
Syrphidae Family Syrphid flies

Insect parasitoids (parasites)

Larval stages of insect parasitoids feed on or inside of other insects, killing their hosts. Adults are free-living wasps or flies.
Scientific name Common name
Acerophagus (=Pseudaphycus) notativentris, A. maculipennis, and other Acerophagus spp. Mealybug parasitoids
Amitus spiniferus Woolly whitefly parasitoid
Anagrus daanei, A. epos, A. erythroneurae, and other Anagrus spp. Leafhopper parasitoids
Anagyrus fusciventris, A. kamali, A. pseudococci, and other Anagyrus spp. Mealybug parasitoids
Anaphes iole, Anaphes nitens, and other Anaphes spp. Egg parasitoids
Aphidius colemani, A. ervi, A. matricariae, and other Aphidius spp. Aphid parasitoids
Aphytis aonidiae San Jose scale parasitoid
Aphytis lepidosaphes Purple scale parasitoid
Aphytis melinus California red scale parasitoid
Cales noacki Whitefly parasitoid
Calosota elongata Goldspotted oak borer parasitoid
Ceranisus menes Western flower thrips parasitoid
Coccophagus lycimnia =C. lecanii Scale insects parasitoid
Comperiella bifasciata California red scale parasitoid
Copidosoma (=Copidosomopsis =Pentalitomastix) plethoricum =C. plethorica, C. truncatellum, and other Copidosoma spp. Caterpillar parasitoids
Cosmocomoidea (=Gonatocerus) ashmeadi and other Cosmocomoidea spp. Glassy-winged sharpshooter parasitoids
Cotesia (=Apanteles) medicaginis Alfalfa caterpillar parasitoid
Cryptochaetum iceryae Cottony cushion scale parasitoid
Diaeretiella rapae Aphid parasitoid
Diglyphus begini, D. isaea, and other Diglyphus spp. Leafminer parasitoids
Encarsia (=Encarsiella) noyesi Giant whitefly parasitoid
Encarsia formosa Whitefly parasitoid
Encarsia inaron =E. partenopea Ash whitefly parasitoid
Encarsia pergandiella Whitefly parasitoid
Encarsia perniciosi Armored scale parasitoid
Entedononecremnus krauteri Giant whitefly parasitoid
Erynnia, Erynniopsis, Trichopoda, and Voria species and other Tachinidae Tachinid flies
Erynniopsis antennata Elm leaf beetle parasitoid
Goniozus legneri and other Goniozus spp. Caterpillar parasitoids
Habrobracon (=Bracon) cushmani Grape leaffolder parasitoid
Hyposoter exiguae Caterpillar parasitoid
Idioporus affinis Giant whitefly parasitoid
Leptomastix dactylopii Mealybug parasitoid
Lysiphlebus testaceipes Aphid parasitoid
Metaphycus flavus, M. luteolus, M. helvolus, and other Metaphycus spp. Scale insect parasitoids
Oomyzus (=Tetrastichus) gallerucae Elm leaf beetle parasitoid
Psyllaephagus bliteus Redgum lerp psyllid parasitoid
Psyllaephagus pilosus Bluegum psyllid parasitoid
Tamarixia radiata Asian citrus psyllid parasitoid
Thripoctenus javae =Thripobius semiluteus Greenhouse thrips parasitoid
Trichogramma spp. Egg parasitoids
Trichopoda pennipes True bug parasitoid
Trioxys pallidus Walnut aphid parasitoid
Trissolcus basalis, T. euschisti, and other Trissolcus species Stink bug parasitoids

Weed herbivores

Adult or larval stages or both of invertebrate weed herbivores feed on or inside of undesirable plants (weeds). They kill their hosts, reduce weeds' reproductive capacity (e.g., seed production), or both.
Scientific name Common name
Dactylopius spp. Cochineal scales of prickly pear cacti
Chrysolina quadrigemina Klamathweed beetle
Microlarinus lareynii and M. lypriformis Puncturevine weevils
Diorhabda elongata and other Diorhabda spp. Tamarisk beetles

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