What are insectary plants?

[editor]

By definition: Insectary plants is a term used to describe plants that attract insects. They are intentionally introduced into an ecosystem (your garden) to increase pollen and nectar resources required by the natural enemies of harmful or unwanted pests.
These friendly insects assist in pollination.

How do we attract them?
By providing food and shelter (i.e. habitats) of course. Insectary plants attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs, parasitic wasps, (did you know they feed on the tomato hornworm) lacewigs, bees, butterflies, and hover flies to the garden. An array of plants are used to attract beneficial insects including fennel, angelica, coriander (cilantro), dill, and wild carrot. Various clovers, yarrow, and rue also attract parasitic and predatory insects. Low-growing plants, such as thyme, rosemary, or mint, provide shelter for ground beetles and other beneficial insects. Composite flowers (daisy and chamomile) and mints (spearmint, peppermint, or catnip) will attract predatory wasps, hoverflies, and robber flies. The wasps will catch caterpillars and grubs to feed their young, while the predatory and parasitic flies attack many kinds of insects, including leafhoppers and caterpillars. Other insectary plants include: mustard, phacelia, buckwheat, marigold, elderberry, and Korean licorice mint know to most as Agastache. In addition, lavender, cosmos, and the dreaded mugwort (to ladybugs a prime place to procreate.

Insectary plants are considered a form of natural pest control. By using insectary plants you can reduce and eliminate the need for pesticides that harm both good and bad insects. They provide food in the form of foliage for larvae to feed on as well as nectar and pollen. A healthy “ecosystem” is one that is diversified. An array of plant species that bloom throughout the growing season is an important factor when maintaining healthy plants.

For maximum benefit in the garden, insectary plants can be grown alongside desired garden plants that do not have this benefit. The insects attracted to the insectary plants will also help the other nearby garden plants.

Which insects prefer what and how do you keep them year after year?
Create a separate or integrated insectary garden. Build or purchase a butterfly, bat, toad and bird house. English lavender and many other flowers attract bees and butterflies. Common yarrow provides hosting for ladybugs, wasps, and hover flies. Lacewings, ladybugs, hover flies, and spiders prefer cosmos, an annual that often reseeds. Sweet alyssum, often grown in rock gardens attracts hover flies and braconid wasps.

The Editor

Source: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/pest/in_ ... efits.html