While gardeners often worry about keeping pests away from their plants, many beneficial bugs act as a defense team against pests that want to snack on your garden. These skilled predators will not harm humans or pets, but will eliminate infestations of unwanted critters. Here are four bugs that you want to welcome to your garden.
Bugs For A Better Garden
- Parasitic wasps – Wasps have a bad reputation, but there are over 100,000 species worldwide, and many do not need to be feared. Also known as solitary wasps, these parasitic predators kill harmful insects like tomato hornworms and pollinate plants as they hunt. They look similar to aggressive social wasps, but do not bite or sting humans.
- Ladybugs – These cute beetles have a reputation for bringing good luck and are one of the hardest-working predators in your garden. Aphids are a pest that can easily destroy your garden by sucking the sap from the stems, leaves, and roots of a variety of plants. Luckily, one ladybug can devour up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime. Ladybugs also feast on other plant-eating pests, making them a welcome guest in gardens and on farms. There are over 5,000 species of ladybugs around the world, with most of them residing in the United States.
Fun fact: Contrary to a common misconception, ladybug spots do not determine the beetle’s age, but are a defense mechanism that wards off predators.
- Dragonflies – Dragonflies are both beautiful and masterful mosquito hunters. Each dragonfly can eat over 100 mosquitos a day and also snacks on other small insects. While it is recommended to eliminate standing water sources to decrease mosquito population, dragonflies need water to survive. Add a water source such as a fountain or bird bath near your garden in order to attract these colorful creatures and eliminate pests.
- Spiders – These creepy crawlers often weave their intricate silk homes in gardens, building traps and feasting on a variety of pests. Spiders also transport pollen as they hunt, helping to create a more balanced ecosystem for all plants and animals.
Always Be Pesticide-Free
With the help of these predatory bugs and natural insect repellent remedies, you can protect your plants from pests and create an abundant garden. Always opt for pesticide-free options because toxic chemicals contaminate water sources and harm all species.
