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Beneficial Insects on NYC Farms Pocket Guide

Sam Anderson, Urban Agriculture Specialist
Harvest New York

Last Modified: November 8, 2022
Beneficial Insects on NYC Farms Pocket Guide

The Pocket Guide: Beneficial Insects on NYC Farms provides information on beneficial insects commonly found on New York City farms as well as how to recognize and identify them.

Beneficial insects in this guide refers to natural enemies of pests as well as pollinator insects, like bees.

The guide is a collaboration between NYS Integrated Pest Management and CCE Harvest NY, with content from Ileana Katzman.

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GU?A DE BOLSILLO: Insectos ben?ficos en las granjas de la ciudad de Nueva York

Esta gu?a brinda informaci?n sobre los insectos ben?ficos que se encuentran com?nmente en las granjas de la ciudad de Nueva York, as? como tambi?n c?mo reconocerlos e identificarlos.



Pocket Guide: Beneficial Insects on NYC Farms (pdf; 1378KB)

GUÍA DE BOLSILLO: Insectos benéficos en las granjas de la ciudad de Nueva York (pdf; 1441KB)


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Upcoming Events

Companion Planting in the Food Garden--with Mushrooms!

November 12, 2025
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Brooklyn, NY

Companion planting (or intercropping) is an ancient method of increasing yields and maximizing growing space. Learn how to diversify your garden harvest while enjoying the mutual benefits of intercropping with mushrooms, such as improving soil health and water retention. Plan next spring's garden with guidance from Urban Agriculture Specialist Yolanda Gonzalez on growing three different types of mushrooms, from site selection to harvest. Take home a native plant to try!

NYC Mushroom Summit

December 5, 2025
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
New York, NY

The NYC Mushroom Summit, hosted by the Cornell Small Farms Program, will convene a regional network of mushroom farmers and educators from indoor, outdoor, and community production systems; restaurateurs, food creatives and chefs; and extension, government and industry representatives. This diverse group will work together to determine grower research and marketing needs, interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities, and community building initiatives. Group conversations and presentations will be structured around value added products, frontiers in mycology research, and peer-to-peer learning.

Pruning & Fruit Tree Health 101

December 13, 2025
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Cambria Heights, NY

Join us at Cambria Heights Community Garden for a free, hands-on workshop with CCE Harvest NY Urban Garden Specialist Karen Guzman. Participants will learn about basic tree maintenance and pruning techniques. Proper winter care helps trees conserve energy, prevent damage from cold weather, and prepare for growth in the spring.  

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New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series

Cornell Cooperative Extension has partnered with dozens of urban farms across New York State to demonstrate and evaluate sustainable pest management strategies. Together with farmers, we found success using control methods that prevent or reduce crop losses through exclusion strategies, crop timing, host resistance, the introduction of beneficial organisms, and more. Regardless of management strategy used, common requirements for success include a knowledge of the pest and disease complex, preventative deployment and commitment to the process. The New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series includes case studies highlighting pest management techniques that New York urban farms have found valuable.