Insect Friendly Gardens

Tachinid flies are among the many beneficial flies that prey on garden pests.

Leafcutter bees cut circular or c-shaped sections from leaves of plants such as redbud, serviceberry, and rose.

Aphid parasitoids are very tiny wasps that lay their eggs in aphids.

Bumble bees are important pollinators that feed on nectar and pollen. They very rarely sting.

Cellophane bees are important pollinators of plants and they are not aggressive/defensive.

Carpenter bees are the largest native bees in the United States and they are effective pollinators.

Giant resin bees are an introduced species and are native to parts of Asia.

Braconid wasps and Ichneumonoid wasps are types of parasitoids that are beneficial in a garden.

Common pollinators in Maryland include bees and wasps, butterflies and moths, beetles, and flies.

Scale and whitefly parasitoids are small insects that are beneficial for controlling pests in a garden.