Flower farming is full of beauty, but every grower knows that insects are always part of the story. Some are helpful, some are harmful, and many are simply doing what they do. Learning how to live with them, rather than constantly fighting against them, can transform the way we grow.
My recent conversation with Erik van der Sluys from Beneficial Insectary reminded me of something I have seen again and again. Managing insects well is not about reacting to every problem. It is about creating the kind of environment where beneficial insects can do what they are designed to do. When the farm is cared for with intention, the good bugs show up, settle in, and support the plants in ways we often miss unless we slow down and look more closely.
What Do We Mean by Biological Control (Biocontrol)?
Before we go any further, it helps to name what all of this falls under. When growers use good bugs to help manage the not-so-good bugs, we call that biocontrol. It is simply the practice of letting living, beneficial organisms help us handle pest pressure in a more natural way.
Biocontrol works best when it has a strong foundation to stand on. Healthy plants, clean growing spaces, and a few simple tools make it easier for these beneficial insects to settle in and do their job. Once those pieces are in place, the good bugs become an incredibly helpful part of keeping our flowers protected and thriving.
With that in mind, let’s look at the everyday habits that make biocontrol successful and create a healthier environment for our plants long before pests ever show up.
Creating Conditions Where Balance Can Happen
One theme that kept coming back to me after talking with Erik was how much of this work begins long before we see a single pest. The habits we build every day make a bigger difference than we realize.
Healthy plants are always the best place to start. The way we water, how we fertilize, how we space our rows, and how we rotate crops all shape the world our flowers grow in. When plants are strong and comfortable, they naturally attract fewer pests and invite more balance. They simply hold their own better.
On my own farm, I notice this most in mid season when everything starts to stretch and push for the sun. If the plants have been cared for well, you can feel the steadiness in the field. That steadiness becomes the foundation for everything else that follows, including the introduction of beneficial insects.
Keeping the Space Clean and Ready
Sanitation plays a much larger role than most of us want to admit. It is not glamorous work. It is the picking up of fallen leaves, the cleaning of tools, the quick removal of plants that are not doing well. But these small habits make a world of difference in keeping pest pressure low.
Erik talked about this in a way that made perfect sense. Beneficial insects need a fighting chance. When the environment is cluttered or stressed, pests get ahead too quickly. When things are clean and well managed, the good bugs can step in and hold the line. I have seen this firsthand. A tidy space invites health. A neglected space invites trouble.
Using Simple Tools To Guide The System
Mechanical practices are the small, physical tools that help keep balance. Sticky cards, screens on vents, a burst of water to knock aphids off tender growth, a little time spent hand removing leaves that are showing early signs of trouble. These simple actions do not replace beneficial insects, but they absolutely support them.
I often think of these tools as gentle nudges. They help guide the system back toward balance without causing harm. They also give you valuable information about what is moving through your fields and tunnels.
When Nature Needs a Little Boost
There are times when the natural population of beneficial insects just is not enough to keep up. This is where introducing extra beneficial insects can make a huge difference. They work alongside the ones already living on the farm and give your plants the support they need during more challenging moments.
What struck me most in talking with Erik is how these introductions are not meant to be quick fixes. They work best when the farm is already in good shape. When the plants are strong, the spaces are clean, and the environment is steady, beneficial insects settle in and start doing their work almost immediately. When the groundwork is there, everything responds more smoothly.
I think of it like welcoming extra help during a busy week. You have already set the space up for success. Now the support can actually make an impact.
The Power of Paying Attention
Of all the habits that matter, observation may be the most important. Every farm has its own rhythm. Temperatures shift, humidity rises, pests appear, beneficial insects follow. No two seasons look the same. When we learn to pay attention, we begin to understand what our plants and insects are telling us.
This is something I remind myself of often. The more time I spend walking the rows, the more I see. Little clues become clearer. Patterns make more sense. Problems feel less like surprises and more like invitations to adjust.
Observation is where good decisions begin. It helps you know when to make changes, when to introduce beneficial insects, and when to simply let the system do what it was designed to do.
Finding Harmony In The Field
Building a strong insect management plan is really about nurturing balance. It is about creating a space where plants can grow with confidence and where beneficial insects have what they need to thrive. When we focus on health rather than control, everything on the farm becomes more stable.
In my own experience, this approach leads to stronger plants, calmer seasons, and blooms that reflect the care put into the land. Beneficial insects become partners rather than tools. The farm becomes a living, breathing system that supports itself in ways we often overlook.
Good bugs and better blooms go hand in hand. When we honor the harmony of the field, the field honors us right back.
Meet the Beneficial Insects That Help Protect Your Flowers
One of the highlights of my conversation with Erik van der Sluys was seeing the beneficial insects that growers rely on every season. Here are a few of the most commonly used (from Beneficial Insectary) and some of the most effective natural predators you can introduce to support your crops.
Amblyseius californicus
Amblyseius californicus is a hardworking predatory mite that helps keep several troublesome mite species in check. It is especially fond of two-spotted spider mites but will also feed on broad mites, cyclamen mites, and every stage of their development, including eggs, nymphs, and adults. One of the reasons A.californicus is such a useful partner is that it performs well even when pest numbers are still low, making it a great choice for preventive releases. Because it can live on pollen when prey is scarce, it stays active in the crop longer than many other predators. It also handles a wide range of climates, from warm and dry conditions to cooler stretches, which makes it a steady and reliable part of an integrated insect management plan.
Amblyseius cucumeris
Amblyseius cucumeris are commonly used to keep thrips populations from getting out of hand and can also help with broad mites. These mites feed only on the early, larval stage of thrips, not the adults. Because of this, they work best when thrips are just beginning to appear. Releasing A.cucumeris early, before numbers climb, gives them the best chance to keep the problem under control.
Chrysoperla rufilabris
Chrysoperla rufilabris, better known as the green lacewing, begins life in a stage that is surprisingly fierce for such a delicate-looking insect. The larvae are the real workers here, actively searching for soft-bodied pests to feed on. Aphids are one of their favorite meals, but they will also take advantage of mealybugs, young whiteflies, some types of scale, and even a few pest mites when they find them. Adults do not hunt, so it is the larval stage that brings the most benefit to growers. These tiny predators move through the crop with purpose and can make a noticeable difference when pest pressure starts to rise.
Dalotia coriaria rove beetle adult
Dalotia coriaria are tiny rove beetles that live in the top layer of soil. Both the adults and the young beetles eat problem pests like shore fly and fungus gnat larvae, and they will also go after thrips as they pupate in the soil. They stay active in cooler temperatures, around fifty degrees, and can survive even colder. The adults can fly and usually come out at night. You will often find them hiding under pots or trays. For best results, add them to the soil around young plants as early as you can.
Stratiolaelaps scimitus
Stratiolaelaps scimitus are tiny predatory mites that spend their time in the top layer of soil, quietly doing some very helpful work. They feed on fungus gnat larvae and thrips as they pupate in the soil, which makes them especially useful in seedling trays, young plantings, and anywhere moisture tends to stay a little longer. These mites are at their best when they are added early, before pests really get moving. Once they settle into the soil, they begin hunting right away and help keep things in balance while your plants grow stronger.
Beneficial insects may be tiny, but the support they bring to our crops can make a real difference. When we understand how they work and give them the conditions they need, the whole process of managing pests becomes much less overwhelming.
If you would like to explore this topic further, I hope you will listen to my conversation with Erik. He shares practical, down-to-earth insights that any grower can put to use. And if you are looking for more information, the Beneficial Insectary website is a wonderful resource. It is full of easy-to-understand guides, helpful explanations, and a section where you can order beneficial insects directly for your farm. It is a great place to continue learning and find exactly what you need for the season ahead.
Images and Information provided by Beneficial Insectary
