Beneficial Insects For Natural Pest Control: Soil Scouting

Beneficial insects like predatory ground beetles and wasps, spiders, and lady beetles can provide important natural pest control in a farm or garden setting. Other soil dwelling invertebrates, such as springtails, ants, dung beetles, and ground beetles help with improving soil health, breaking down organic matter, spreading beneficial fungi, and reducing pathogens like e. coli. Our soil scouting guide is designed to help you assess the presence of these beneficial organisms where they hunt, feed and move across soils. 

For use with our guides Habitat Planning for Beneficial Insects and Farming with Soil Life: A Handbook for Supporting Soil Invertebrates and Soil Health on Farms.