The common name praying mantis refers to the typical “prayer-like” posture the insect has, with folded forelimbs. In fact, mantids specialize in preying! The preying mantis is almost a perfect insect-hunting machine. This may be why mantids are one of the first species people think of when the term beneficial insect is mentioned.

The honey bee is responsible for approximately 80% of the pollination of fruits, nut, grains, and vegetables in the United States today. Honey bees are not native to North America; they were brought here by European settlers in the colonial days to pollinate their crops and for the products created or gathered by the honey bees-honey, propolis, royal jelly, pollen, and beeswax.

The Spiny orb weaver is one of many species of beneficial spider that feasts on small garden pests. Their common name is appropriately labelled, the spider has six pointy projections located around its abdomen. Bright coloration of the abdomen such as yellow, red, white and black are associated with this interesting critter, and the rest of its body is black. Although they may look dangerous with their bright colors, they are harmless to humans.

Dragonflies are graceful, brightly colored predatory insects with four wings and a long body. Large ancestors of dragonflies, those with a three-foot wingspan, were on this planet longer than we can imagine. Fossil records show that dragonflies have been here since before dinosaurs appeared! They fly over open areas of water, fields, and wetlands with ease.

Butterflies are beautiful, graceful creatures and there are over 20,000 different species located in many parts of the world. They also provide a very important service for the plant kingdom: pollination. While they perch on a flower to drink the nectar that sustains them, some of the pollen dust sticks on their wings and legs. As they flutter around, some of the pollen is dropped onto other flowers of the same species.

The writing spider, or black and yellow argiope, is a brightly colored predator. They are considered orb weavers, which means they spin their web in a circle shape. This particular species adds zig-zag patterns to their web which looks like a person’s writing, which is why they are referred to as the writing spider in some places. Their body is black and yellow, with black and brown, red or yellow banded legs. Females are more than twice the size of males of the same species

What is it about the tiny Lady Beetle that makes people like them? Is it their bright colors or domed shape? Or do we sense how much good they’ve done us through the centuries? Whatever the attraction, it’s gone on for a long time and is quite widespread.

Many European cultures had a high regard for this beetle family as early as the Middle Ages, when they were dedicated to the Virgin Mary.