We call them “pests,” brush them away and even stomp on them. Poor bugs. They’ve gotten a bad rap. But did you know that when it comes to your garden, some are indispensable?
“Not all insects are pests,” notes OrganicLesson.com. “There are a number of species we refer to as beneficial insects.” They are the bugs that keep other insects that damage your gardens and lawns under control.
OrganicLesson advocates that homeowners avoid chemical pesticides, which kill the good actors as well as harmful bugs. Over time, bugs also develop resistance to such chemicals. Instead, OrganicLesson suggests homeowners introduce “bug predators” into their yards. Many are available for purchase online; you can also attract them by making the plants they are attracted plentiful in your yard.
Here are 7 bugs that every garden will love:
Ladybugs
They prey on: aphids, whiteflies, Colorado potato beetles
They like: dill, dandelion, fern-leaf yellow, Basket-of-gold
Ground beetles
They prey on: slugs, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, cutworms
They like: evening primrose, Amaranthus, clover
Minute pirate bugs
They prey on: Spider mites, aphids, thrips, caterpillars
They like: caraway, fennel, alfalfa, spearmint
Green lacewings
They prey on: aphids, whiteflies, leafhoppers, mealybugs
They like: dill, angelica, golden marguerite, coriander
Aphid midges
They prey on: aphids
They like: dill, plants with lots of nectar and pollen
Damsel bugs
They prey on: caterpillars, mites, aphids, cabbage worms
They like: caraway, Peter Pan goldenrod, spearmint, fennel
Braconid wasps
They prey on: caterpillars, aphids
They like: fern-leaf yarrow, lemon balm, parsley, common yarrow.
Photo by Samuel Myles on Unsplash