Beneficial Insects and Mites

Many insects and related arthropods perform functions that are directly or indirectly beneficial to humans. They pollinate plants, contribute to the decay of organic matter and the cycling of soil nutrients, and attack other insects and mites that are considered to be pests. Only a very small percentage of over one-million known species of insects are pests. Although all the remaining non-pest species might be considered beneficial because they play important roles in the environment, the beneficial insects and mites used in pest management are natural enemies of pest species. A natural enemy may be a predator, a parasitoid, or a competitor.