Chances are many beneficial insects already live in your garden, but not at the population densities necessary to effectively control certain pests. So it may be necessary to seek reinforcements and actively augment your defenses by releasing a variety of commercially available beneficials.

The release technique will depend on the type of organism, its life stage, and any specific packaging. In this video, Jaret Daniels, Ph.D., assistant director of research at the University of Florida’s McGuire Center for Lepidoptera Research, demonstrates several methods for distributing these “bugs for hire” in your garden.

For a complete primer and resource guide, read Jaret’s article, “Releasing Beneficials in the Home Garden,” in the May/June 2003 issue of Fine Gardening (#91).