Natural insect control
Birds are a great help in controlling insects. Some birds can eat their weight in insects each day. Toads, moles, skunks and some species of snakes depend almost entirely upon insects for their food. Some predatory parasites also contribute to insect control. These insects are harmless to the gardener but prey upon other insects that harm flower and vegetable gardens. Insect parasites imported from Europe and Asia helped control the gypsy moth. The Australian Lady Beetle was imported to help control cottony cushion scale, which was especially bad on citrus trees. Two imported natural parasites have helped to bring the Japanese beetle under control. One is a parasitic fly which lays its eggs upon the adult beetle, and the larvae bore their way into the body of the beetle. The other is a parasitic wasp which attacks the beetle in its larva stage.