Insects That Benefit Your Garden

Posted By Cathy Scholes On 06-03-2017

Pests are one of the chief threats that your garden faces. Naturally, you might be tempted to opt for insecticide to ward off insects and animals – but this tactic has proven to do more harm than good. Pesticides kill not only the bugs that are harmful, but also the bugs that are beneficial. Studies also show that these bugs have developed resistance to the pesticides.

The best solution is to introduce and preserve the pests’ natural enemies. They might be able to escape poison, but they can’t escape being eaten by a hungry predator. Here are list of insects that can benefit your garden:

Beetles

If aphids (or plant lice) are a problem for your garden, beetles are your perfect solution. Not only will the beetles make a meal of the unwanted insects, their young will also dine on aphids before they are fully grown.

Lacewings

Lacewings also feed on aphids, and can be predacious at an early stage in their lives. They travel from flower to flower in search of nectar – so if you have a flower garden, they will most likely lay eggs.

Hover Flies

Hover flies resemble small bees, and although they eat nectar, they also feast on pests that affect flower gardens. They eat not only insects but eggs, and their varied diet means that your garden will be rid of most pests.

Parasitic Wasps

How would you like a parasite that actually protects your garden? That’s what this insect does. Parasitic wasps consume pests such as earworm, tomato fruitworm, cabbage worm and tent caterpillars. They also lay as many as 300 eggs – however, they tend to have short life spans. To make the most of them, time their introduction with the eggs of the unwanted insects.

Praying Mantis

This is a well known insect that kills unwanted insects quickly. They blend easily into a garden that is green, so be on the lookout for them.

How to preserve garden friendly bugs

The most important way to preserve garden friendly bugs is to avoid the use of pesticides. You also need to observe the general population to ensure that you have the right balance of insects. External factors such as the weather will also play a role in the preservation of certain bugs. Cover the soil with mulch or another natural form of layering to keep out dust and preserve the temperature. Finally, have some plants that the bugs might be attracted to, such as those with flowers.

Natural predation is the best form of insecticide – and your garden will thank you for it. Tempting as it is, avoid pesticides as these will only give you temporary results at best. For more information on how to protect your garden, speak to our representatives who can help you find the best solution.

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