Extension Spotlight

Several organisms help protect aboveground growth of plants. Among them are predators of pests, parasitoids, lichens and pollinators. Predators can be birds, spiders or insects. Parasitoids are wasps. Lichens are symbiosis between algae or cyanobacteria and fungal hyphae. Pollinators are insects, bats or birds.

Predation of pests reduces pest damage to crops. Lacewings and ladybeetles are the most frequently introduced predators to production fields. Mountain Bluebirds eat grasshoppers and many caterpillars. Black capped chickadees eat a wide range of insects. Although, seeing a black capped c...