The words “beneficial” and “parasite” are not normally heard together.  But when talking about gardens, and parasitic wasps that attack pests, the word pairing makes good sense. Many insects in both natural settings and the urban landscape have long been recognized by humans as “beneficial”, as in benefiting man. Predators of pest insects, in particular, have attracted admiring fans, especially farmers.  As early as ninth century China, farmers were modifying their orchards to aid the transfer of predator ants for control of citrus pests.  By the 18th century… Read More →