What kinds of beneficial insects are there, and what do they eat?

I believe everyone is familiar with insects. They have few species but a very large number of individuals, and they are also very widely distributed, with different species of insects found in every part of the world. Nowadays, some insects are even enjoyed by people as food, though most people find it hard to accept. Insects are an indispensable part of our natural world and can be divided into beneficial insects and harmful insects. So what are the beneficial insects? What do they eat?

1. Bees

Bees are a very hardworking beneficial insect, because they work day and night, all for the purpose of obtaining food. Not only do they collect nectar during the day and make honey at night, they also complete the pollination process for fruit trees. They are a typical representative among pollinating insects and are the main pollen dispersal agent for crops, fruits and vegetables, medicinal plants, and forage grasses. With their help, yields can be greatly increased.

In addition, bees are also the main source of honey. Honey is rich in nutritional value and is also an excellent tonic, while royal jelly even has certain medicinal value.

2. Mantises

The mantis, also called the praying mantis, is a carnivorous insect that looks slender in appearance. It also has a very elegant name - praying insect, because the forearms the mantis raises look as if it is praying. Mantises are distributed all over the world and there are many species. They are a very powerful natural enemy of agricultural pests.

Mantises like places with light, can complete their life cycle changes within a single year, and their lifespan is mainly affected by the amount of food and the environment.

Wild mantises are now relatively rare, because of the widespread use of pesticides. There are mainly two ways to raise mantises artificially: one is preserving the egg cases, and the other is the outdoor large-cage rearing method.

So, what do mantises eat? They generally feed on cicadas, butterflies, locusts, and so on, so everyone should not casually catch them, because they are good helpers for crops.

3. Dragonflies

The dragonfly is a beneficial insect that feeds on mosquitoes, flies, moths, and so on. As a child, I very much enjoyed watching dragonflies and would often quietly observe them. Sometimes I would even catch them to take a look and then release them, though of course this practice is not right. Dragonflies flying low is also a sign of the weather, especially when heavy rain is coming, dragonflies always fly very low. Dragonflies are relatively large in size, with two pairs of wings that appear net-like. Their abdomens are flat, and their horns are very thin but have hooked spines, making them good helpers at catching insects.

There are many species of dragonflies, and they also have many eyes. In science, there are also some technological products that have been developed by applying the structure of dragonfly eyes. In addition, dragonflies also have certain medicinal value and can have the effect of strengthening yang and stopping seminal emission.

The above is the answer to the questions of what beneficial insects there are and what they eat. I hope it is helpful to you.