Attracting beneficial insects without creating indoor pests

This presentation provides insights on how to support pollinators and pest-eating insects in your yard without inviting unwanted pests inside or creating stinging risks. Discover planting tips, habitat placement, and maintenance practices that strike the right balance between outdoor biodiversity and indoor pest prevention. 

About the Speaker

Amara Dunn-Silver, Ph.D. is the Biocontrol Specialist with Cornell Integrated Pest Management, part of Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. In this position she supports the effective use of biological control solutions for pests in all agricultural commodities, as well as pests encountered by all New Yorkers where they live, work, play, and learn. When she’s not at work, she enjoys watching all the beneficial insects visiting her garden.

About the Cornell IPM Annual Conference

This session is part of the Cornell IPM Annual Conference: Pests at the Perimeter – How Landscape Design Influences Indoor Pest Intrusion. The 2025 conference focuses on how landscape composition and management around buildings influence the intrusion of pests. Experts will share science-based strategies to manage environments around buildings, reducing pest intrusion. This event offers practical insights for landscape and pest management, ideal for Master Gardener Volunteers, educators, pest management professionals, and community members.

Learn more about the full conference lineup on the Cornell IPM Annual Conference page.