{"id":7573,"date":"2019-02-19T15:37:22","date_gmt":"2019-02-19T20:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/?page_id=7573"},"modified":"2025-09-16T17:52:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T21:52:49","slug":"beneficials","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/beneficials\/","title":{"rendered":"Beneficial Critters"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><strong><em>See also o<\/em><\/strong><em><strong>ur<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/critter-id\/photo-gallery\/beneficials\/\"><strong>photos of Beneficials<\/strong><\/a><\/em><em><strong>, <a href=\"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/publications\/7150e\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Beneficial Insects and Spiders in Your Maine Backyard<\/b><\/a>, <\/strong>and this helpful resource about <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/permacultureplants.com\/functions\/insectary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Insectary Plants<\/a> <\/strong>(part of a free online resource to help you discover and grow various plant species) <\/em><\/h4>\n<hr \/>\n<figure id=\"7576\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7576 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/02\/BeneficialsCategory-MonarchButterfly.jpg\" alt=\"A monarch butterfly resting on a rose, to mark our &quot;Beneficial Critters&quot; category.\" width=\"536\" height=\"536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/02\/BeneficialsCategory-MonarchButterfly.jpg 536w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/02\/BeneficialsCategory-MonarchButterfly-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/02\/BeneficialsCategory-MonarchButterfly-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/02\/BeneficialsCategory-MonarchButterfly-105x105.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/02\/BeneficialsCategory-MonarchButterfly-317x317.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/02\/BeneficialsCategory-MonarchButterfly-423x423.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/02\/BeneficialsCategory-MonarchButterfly-32x32.jpg 32w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,536px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Monarch Butterfly; Besides being beautiful, monarch butterflies pollinate many types of wildflowers as they stop to feed on nectar. Staff Photo by C. Armstrong.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/common-name-listing\/ambush-bugs-and-assassin-bugs\/\"><strong>Ambush Bugs and Assassin Bugs<\/strong><\/a><b><\/b><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/6434\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Anchor Stink Bug<\/strong><\/a> (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><strong><b><\/b><b><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/ants\/\">Ants<\/a><\/b> <\/strong>(Although it is true that many ants are often pests and\/or a nuisance from a human perspective, ants are also beneficial in many ways, as discussed in this University of Iowa publication entitled <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ipm.iastate.edu\/ipm\/hortnews\/1998\/6-19-1998\/antsinlawns.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ants in Lawns<\/a><\/strong>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/uwm.edu\/field-station\/water-boatmen-backswimmers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Backswimmers<\/strong><\/a> (UWM)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bees\u00a0<\/strong><em> \u2014 some online materials available include: <\/em><strong>\u201c<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/publications\/7153e\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Understanding Native Bees, the Great Pollinators: Enhancing Their Habitat in Maine<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u201d <\/strong>(UMaine Extension), <strong>\u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/gardening\/master-gardeners\/manual\/ecology\/how-to-create-a-bee-friendly-landscape\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>How to Create a Bee-Friendly Landscape<\/b><\/a>\u201c<\/strong> (UMaine Extension); <em>see also the comprehensive website<\/em> <strong>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/bee-health.extension.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Bee Health<\/b><\/a>\u201c<\/strong> <em>by eXtension!<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/9151\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Blood-colored Checkered Beetle<\/strong><\/a> (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/beneficials\/bronze-carabid\/\"><strong>Bronze Carabid \/ Bronze Ground Beetle<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/3077\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong><b>Bumblebees<\/b><\/strong><\/a> (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Carrion Beetles<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/12445\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>American Burying Beetle<\/strong><\/a> (<i>Nicrophorus americanus)<\/i> (endangered) (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/common-name-listing\/american-carrion-beetle\/\"><strong><b>American Carrion Beetle<\/b><\/strong><\/a> (<i>Necrophila americana<\/i>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/148724\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Banded Sexton Beetle<\/strong><\/a> (<i>Nicrophorus investigator<\/i>) (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Species\" href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/32505\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Boreal Burying Beetle<\/strong><\/a> (<i>Nicrophorus vespilloides<\/i>) (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/common-name-listing\/margined-carrion-beetle\/\"><strong>Margined Carrion Beetle<\/strong><\/a> (<i>Oiceoptoma noveboracense<\/i>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/32497\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Roundneck Sexton Beetle<\/strong><\/a> (<i>Nicrophorus orbicollis<\/i>) (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/28744\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Tomentose Burying Beetle<\/strong><\/a> (<i>Nicrophorus tomentosus<\/i>) (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/common-name-listing\/centipedes\/\">Centipedes<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/common-name-listing\/damselflies\/\"><b>Damselflies<\/b><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/common-name-listing\/dobsonflies\/\"><strong>Dobsonflies<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/common-name-listing\/dragonflies\/\">Dragonflies<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/beneficials\/bronze-carabid\/\"><strong>European Ground Beetle<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu\/galveston\/beneficials\/beneficial-52_big-eyed_elater.htm\"><b>Eyed Click Beetle (Eyed Elater)<\/b><\/a> <\/strong>(Texas A&amp;M)<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/common-name-listing\/syrphid-flies\/\"><b>Flower Flies<\/b><\/a> <\/strong>(also called Hover Flies or Syrphid Flies)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/44029\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Golden Ground Beetle<\/strong><\/a> (metallic green but with gold reflections) (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ground Beetles<\/strong> (some examples):\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/beneficials\/bronze-carabid\/\"><strong>Bronze Carabid \/ Bronze Ground Beetle<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/44029\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Golden Ground Beetle<\/strong><\/a> (metallic green but with gold reflections) (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bee-health.extension.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Honey bees<\/b><\/a><\/strong> (eXtension.org)<\/li>\n<li><strong><b><\/b><b><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/common-name-listing\/horsehair-worms\/\">Horsehair Worms<\/a><\/b><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/common-name-listing\/syrphid-flies\/\"><b>Hover Flies<\/b><\/a><\/strong> (also called Flower Flies or Syrphid Flies)<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.butterfliesandmoths.org\/taxonomy\/Sphingidae\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Hummingbird Clearwing Moths (or Hummingbird Hawk-moths)<\/b><\/a><\/strong> (USGS) <a href=\"http:\/\/extension.missouri.edu\/publications\/DisplayPub.aspx?P=IPM1019-10#Clearwinged\"><b>Caterpillar stage<\/b><\/a> (University of Missouri)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/txmg.org\/galveston\/beneficials-in-the-garden-and-landscape\/ichneumonid-wasps-an-overview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Ichneumonid wasps<\/strong><\/a> (Texas A&amp;M)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.virginiafruit.ento.vt.edu\/lacewings.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Lacewings<\/strong><\/a> (Virginia Tech)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/common-name-listing\/multicolored-asian-lady-beetle\/\"><strong>Ladybugs \/ Ladybird Beetles<\/strong><\/a><em> &#8212; Ladybugs are beneficial but they are sometimes a household nuisance.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/common-name-listing\/monarch\/\"><strong>Monarch Butterflies<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/common-name-listing\/hornets-wasps-and-yellowjackets\/\"><b>Paper Wasps\/Yellowjackets\/Hornets<\/b><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/entomology.ca.uky.edu\/ef703\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Praying Mantids<\/b><\/a><\/strong> (Univ. of Kentucky)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/195\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Predaceous Diving Beetles<\/strong><\/a> (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umd.edu\/resource\/predatory-stink-bugs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Predatory Stink Bugs<\/a><\/strong> (Univ. of Maryland)\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/6434\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Anchor Stink Bug<\/strong><\/a> (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/237854\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Spined Soldier Bug<\/strong><\/a> (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/2892\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Pseudoscorpions<\/b><\/a><\/strong> (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/entomology.ces.ncsu.edu\/biological-control-information-center\/beneficial-predators\/robber-fly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Robber Flies<\/strong><\/a> (NC State Extension)<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/hort.extension.wisc.edu\/articles\/rove-beetles-staphylinidae\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Rove Beetles<\/b><\/a><\/strong> (University of Wisconsin-Madison)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/nature.mdc.mo.gov\/discover-nature\/field-guide\/sand-wasps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Sand Wasps<\/strong><\/a> (Missouri Dept of Conservation)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/extension.umd.edu\/hgic\/pillbugs-and-sowbugs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Sowbugs and Pillbugs<\/strong><\/a> (Univ. of Maryland \/ UMD Cooperative Extension) <em>They are beneficial decomposers.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/spiders\/\">Spiders<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/237854\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Spined Soldier Bug<\/strong><\/a> (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/common-name-listing\/springtails\/\"><b>Springtails \/ Snowfleas<\/b><\/a><\/strong> \u2014 <em>A few species are agricultural pests but by and large springtails are beneficial to agriculture and nature. <\/em><\/li>\n<li>Examples of some <strong>Predatory<\/strong> <strong><strong>Stink Bugs <\/strong><\/strong>(Subfamily Asopinae)<strong>:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/6434\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Anchor Stink Bug<\/strong><\/a> (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/237854\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Spined Soldier Bug<\/strong><\/a> (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/common-name-listing\/syrphid-flies\/\"><b>Syrphid Flies<\/b><\/a><\/strong> (also called Hover Flies or Flower Flies)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/hort.extension.wisc.edu\/articles\/tachinid-flies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Tachinid Flies<\/strong><\/a> (University of Wisconsin)\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tachinid Fly<\/strong> (<a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/33088\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong><em>Hystricia abrupta<\/em><\/strong><\/a>) (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tachinid Fly<\/strong> (<a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/468623\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><i>Juriniopsis adusta<\/i><\/strong><\/a>) (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tachinid Fly<\/strong> (genus <a href=\"https:\/\/bugguide.net\/node\/view\/9906\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong><span class=\"bgpage-taxon-desc\"><i>Cylindromyia<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/a>) (BugGuide.net)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu\/galveston\/beneficials\/beneficial-33_tiger_beetles.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Tiger Beetles<\/b><\/a><\/strong> (Texas A&amp;M); (Maine IF&amp;W: <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.maine.gov\/ifw\/wildlife\/species\/invertebrates\/rare_tiger_beetles.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rare Tiger Beetles<\/a><\/strong>)<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/common-name-listing\/hornets-wasps-and-yellowjackets\/\"><b>Wasps\/Hornets\/Yellowjackets<\/b><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/uwm.edu\/field-station\/water-boatmen-backswimmers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Water Boatmen<\/strong><\/a> (UWM)<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/texasinsects.tamu.edu\/water-scavenger-beetle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Water Scavenger Beetles<\/b><\/a><\/strong> (Texas A&amp;M)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/common-name-listing\/water-scorpions\/\"><strong><b>Water Scorpions<\/b><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><b><\/b><strong><b><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/common-name-listing\/water-striders\/\">Water Striders<\/a><\/b><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umd.edu\/resource\/pillbugs-and-sowbugs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Woodlice \/ Sowbugs<\/strong><\/a> (Univ. of Maryland \/ UMD Cooperative Extension)<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/common-name-listing\/hornets-wasps-and-yellowjackets\/\"><b>Yellowjackets\/Hornets\/Wasps<\/b><\/a> <\/strong>(beneficial predators and decomposers)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>See also our photos of Beneficials, Beneficial Insects and Spiders in Your Maine Backyard, and this helpful resource about Insectary Plants (part of a free online resource to help you discover and grow various plant species) Ambush Bugs and Assassin Bugs Anchor Stink Bug (BugGuide.net) Ants (Although it is true that many ants are often [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":0,"parent":71,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7573","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Beneficial Critters - Home and Garden IPM from Cooperative Extension - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/beneficials\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Beneficial Critters - Home and Garden IPM from Cooperative Extension - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"See also our photos of Beneficials, Beneficial Insects and Spiders in Your Maine Backyard, and this helpful resource about Insectary Plants (part of a free online resource to help you discover and grow various plant species) Ambush Bugs and Assassin Bugs Anchor Stink Bug (BugGuide.net) Ants (Although it is true that many ants are often [&hellip;]\" 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