Farm Horizons
•
plants. For example, most cabbage pests seek out the
mustard oils produced by plants in the cabbage family
(Brassicaceae).
In fact, many plants produce some sort of aromatic
oil or resin. Experiments have shown that odors given
off by certain aromatic plants can mask the attracting
odor of vulnerable plants, and, in effect, confuse the
pest with a mixed signal of different plant odors. Common repellant plants include strongly pungent vegetables (alliums and tomatoes) and many aromatic herbs.
Some plants are especially good at attracting pests.
With careful monitoring, the home gardener can actually use these pest-prone plants to nurture food for beneficial insects — much like a commercial insectary.
One of the easiest pests to “grow” is the aphid.
Aphids reproduce rapidly, and they have a wide variety
of natural enemies. Most garden plants have aphids,
but some plants seem to have more than others. Many
insectary plants are in the cabbage family including
flowering plants such as Sweet Alyssum and wild and
cultivated mustards
Top Tips to Remember:
Control pests with a diverse landscape.
Insectary p [