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