Beneficial insects and pests

Aphid predator; protect flowering habitat and avoid broad sprays.

Look for aphids on new growth, then check whether ladybird adults or larvae are already feeding.

Larvae eat aphids; adults need small flowers such as coriander, dill, alyssum, and calendula.

Plant small-flowered insectary strips and avoid removing all flowering herbs at once.

Pollinates flowering herbs, fruiting crops, and insectary flowers.

Keep flowers available through the season and avoid spraying open flowers.

Strong pollinator for tomatoes, beans, cucurbits, and cooler-weather flowers.

Keep borage, herbs, and flowering edges available near fruiting crops.

Larvae feed on aphids, mites, and small soft-bodied pests.

Keep mixed flowers and avoid blanket insecticide use where larvae may be active.

Tiny wasps parasitise aphids, caterpillars, and other pests; many need small flowers as adult food.

Leave flowering coriander, dill, fennel, alyssum, and yarrow patches for adult wasps.

Nocturnal predator that can feed on slugs, larvae, and soil-surface pests.

Keep mulch, stones, logs, and undisturbed edges so ground beetles have shelter.

General predator that catches flies, moths, and other small insects in and around beds.

Avoid clearing every web or rough edge unless it blocks access.

Small solitary pollinators that visit flowers and benefit from bare soil and diverse blooms.

Keep flowering herbs and avoid mulching every dry bare patch if solitary bees are nesting there.

General predator in vegetable beds and shelter plants.

Keep habitat complexity; move carefully when clearing tall weeds or old crop stems.

Tiny soil animals that help break down organic matter in compost and moist mulch.

Treat springtails as a soil-life sign unless they are in stressed seedling trays.

Decomposer in damp mulch; can nibble very soft seedlings if populations build up.

Keep mulch useful, but clear heavy damp hiding places right beside new seedlings.

Soil predator that feeds on small insects and larvae.

Leave undisturbed compost and mulch areas where possible; move carefully when turning material.

Indicator of active soil biology and organic matter cycling.

Feed soil with compost and mulch; avoid leaving beds bare for long periods.

Chews seedlings and soft leaves, especially in wet winter and spring conditions.

Use beer traps, yeast bait traps, night picking, and habitat reduction around fresh seedlings.

Chews seedlings, leafy greens, and soft fruit; hides under pots, timber, and dense weeds.

Hand-pick after rain, use traps, and clear hiding spots beside young plants.

Caterpillars chew brassica leaves and can damage cabbage, broccoli, kale, and cauliflower.

Check brassica leaves for eggs and caterpillars, then net or hand remove.

Sap-sucking pest on brassicas, tomatoes, and greenhouse crops; can build quickly under cover.

Shake leaves to monitor, improve airflow, remove badly infested leaves, and encourage predators.

Tiny rasping insects that can scar leaves and flowers, especially in dry sheltered conditions.

Keep plants watered, avoid drought stress, and use blue/yellow sticky monitoring only where appropriate.

Serious pest of tomatoes, potatoes, capsicum, and related crops.

Monitor nightshade crops, remove volunteer potatoes, and get staff review before recommending controls.

Larvae tunnel inside leaves, leaving pale winding trails.

Remove badly affected leaves and avoid overfeeding soft leafy growth.

Shield bug that pierces beans, tomatoes, berries, and fruiting crops.

Hand-pick adults and egg clusters, especially before numbers build in warm weather.

Sap-sucking pest that can hide in leaf joints and protected spots on citrus and greenhouse plants.

Prune for airflow, remove small colonies by hand, and check ants that may protect them.

Sap-sucking pest on citrus and fruit trees; often linked with ants and sooty mould.

Check stems and leaf backs, improve airflow, and use oil sprays only with staff-reviewed timing.

Sap-sucking pest on soft new growth; also food for ladybirds, hoverflies, and lacewings.

Squash small outbreaks, improve airflow, and check for beneficial predators before spraying.

Not always a pest, but can protect aphids, scale, and mealybugs for honeydew.

If ants are farming sap-suckers, manage the sap-sucker problem and reduce access routes.

Small flies in wet seedling mix; larvae can affect weak seedlings.

Avoid overwatering trays, improve drainage, and let the surface dry slightly between watering.