Decision-making on farms and gardens of any size can be a balancing act, often with limited time, labor, and resources. Supporting beneficial invertebrates on farms through habitat installation comes with many benefits. Lacewings, predatory and parasitic wasps, flies, beetles, native bees, and other beneficial invertebrates play vital roles, day and night, in the production of agricultural crops through pollination, pest control, and building healthy soils.
Urban agriculture spaces with habitat on site (or nearby) and pesticide protection methods in place can support a diverse community of invertebrates throughout their life cycles. In turn, these important animals contribute to the health of the farm or garden.
This factsheet is an introduction to the beneficial invertebrates that can be found in urban agriculture and the contributions they add to a farm or community garden.