Who are the helpers on a farm?
Beneficial predators include ladybugs, lacewings, ground beetles, hover flies, parasitic wasps, spiders, predatory bugs, birds, bats and toads. Some eat pests directly, others lay eggs in or on pests. Spiders and predatory mites are easy to overlook but eat large numbers of small pests.
The Xerces Society and SARE describe this as conservation biological control: supporting the natural enemies already present on your farm.
Learning to recognize helpers, including their young stages, keeps you from harming them by mistake. Learn the larval stages as well as adults. Many young helpers look nothing like the adults and are easily mistaken for pests.
Why does habitat matter?
Beneficial insects need food, water, shelter and places to overwinter. Many adults feed on nectar and pollen, so flowering plants help them. Undisturbed ground, leaf litter, grass clumps and hedgerows provide shelter.
Farmers.gov small-scale guidance on biological pest management highlights habitat as the foundation of these methods.
Without refuge and food, helpers move on or fail to build up when pests arrive. Even a small strip of flowers along a field edge can make a difference, since helpers move short distances and settle where food is close.
- Flowers with small blooms for nectar and pollen
- Hedgerows and grassy strips
- Undisturbed ground and leaf litter
- A shallow water source
How do I add flowers and cover?
Plant a mix of flowers that bloom in sequence from spring to fall, including native species where possible. Include flowers of different shapes, since small helpers feed best on small, open blooms.
Place flowering strips near crops, along field edges or between rows. Leave some areas of ground cover and bunch grasses undisturbed. Ask your extension office or NRCS service center for regional plant lists.
Start small and expand what works. Mow or cut flowering strips in sections rather than all at once, so some bloom and shelter remain at every point in the season.
How do I avoid harming helpers?
Broad-spectrum pesticides kill helpers along with pests. Read labels carefully, and ask whether a product is toxic to beneficial insects or pollinators. The label is the law. Avoid spraying when plants are in bloom unless the label allows it.
Use IPM first: identify, monitor, set thresholds and choose the mildest option. Often natural enemies catch up if you wait a short time.
Let some pests remain. A few aphids can feed a ladybug family and bring them to your crops. Some products are labeled as less harmful to beneficial insects, but this varies. Read the label and ask your extension office.
- Identify before you spray
- Check labels for effects on beneficials
- Avoid spraying in bloom
- Tolerate low pest levels
Should I buy beneficial insects?
Purchased insects can help in some situations, such as greenhouses, but results outdoors are often mixed, since they may leave. Habitat for local species is usually the longer-lasting approach.
If you consider buying, ask your extension office whether the species suits your site and rules. Some states have rules on releasing non-native species. Check before you buy.
Avoid collecting wild insects without knowing local regulations. Whatever you do, keep records of what you released, when and what happened, so you can judge the results honestly.
What about birds, bats and other animals?
Birds eat many insects, and bats are strong consumers of night-flying pests. Nest boxes, perches and water can help, but be careful to place them where predators or crop damage will not be a problem.
Bats and some birds are protected by law, and roosts can bring health considerations. Ask your state wildlife agency before installing bat houses or disturbing roosts.
Toads, snakes and spiders also eat pests. Learn to live with them where it is safe. Keep nest boxes clean and out of the reach of cats and other predators where possible, and check local rules before installing any.
How do I tell if it is working?
Scout your crops and note both pests and helpers. Take photos and keep dates. Over a few seasons you should see pest outbreaks fade sooner and helpers appear earlier.
Be patient. Natural enemies need time to build up, and results vary with weather and region. Combine habitat with other IPM steps.
Share your observations with your extension office or neighbors. Local knowledge makes everyone's farm better. Photographs taken from the same spot each week can show change more clearly than memory.
Key takeaways
- Support helpers with flowers, cover and undisturbed ground.
- Learn to recognize beneficial insects and their young stages.
- Avoid broad-spectrum sprays and read every label.
- Be patient and track results over several seasons.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.