English equivalent for 益蟲?

[tooironic]

Is there a decent English translation available for the Chinese word 益蟲? Basically it's the antonym of "pest" (害蟲) - i.e. an insect which is beneficial to human beings (yeah I know that sounds like Chinglish, but that's what it refers to) such as bees, as opposed to, say, locusts which can be harmful. Not sure there is an equivalent concept in English, but if you can think of one do let me know. Cheers.

[fanglu]

The wikipedia suggestion of 'beneficial insect' seems ok. I've seen it used in print, and a google search sees it in pretty wide use in gardening circles.

[陳德聰]

I have always referred to these as "helpful bugs".

[li3wei1]

In certain contexts you could get away with "farmer's friends"

[tooironic]

Wow, I didn't even think to check Wikipedia, I just assumed it was Chinglish. The term "beneficial insects" sounds so weird to me, I guess it's a technical term used in biology/gardening circles. Thanks.

[gato]

The English term "beneficial insect" probably came first, and "益虫" a translation.

[roddy]

There are only two reasons insects are beneficial - either they pollinate, or they eat the bad bugs. So if it's a specific context, you could perhaps refer to pollinating or pest-eating insects.

[Kenny同志]

There are only two reasons insects are beneficial - either they pollinate, or they eat the bad bugs.

Silkworms are also considered 益蟲.

Also we have 益鳥.

[roddy]

Ok, there are only two reasons I could think of. Mind you, you can eat locusts, are they 益?

[Kenny同志]

Roddy, silkworms are considered 益蟲 because they produce silk which we can use to make clothes.

[roddy]

Yes, I know. But what if you're a mulberry farmer? Plus, they're delicious.

[Guest realmayo]

Yes, beneficial insects is a common term for organic gardening in particular. But as kenny points out it doesn't capture the meaning of the Chinese because it refers to insects that are beneficial to farmers and not silkworms which are beneficial to tailors. Desirable insects? Valued insects? Cultivated insects? Non-pests?

Kenny what are 益鳥? Cormorants?

[li3wei1]

You're also forgetting circus-trained fleas.

Seriously, though, there are probably also medicinal insects (scorpions are technically arachnids, but close). And in the future the range of insects considered to be edible is going to grow and grow, because they're so efficient at turning otherwise useless stuff into protein.

[Guest realmayo]

Bees!

[Kenny同志]

But what if you're a mulberry farmer?

Most mulberry farmers also keep silkworms. Every day or two, they take mulberry leaves home from the field to feed their silkworms (picture).

BTW, I was referring to 家蠶 when I used the word silkworms so it’s not a problem to those who grow mulberry. Quite on the contrary, the insect is their source of income.

麻油同志：

A 益鳥 is a pest-eating bird.

[Michaelyus]

Invertebrates of economic importance/value/benefit.