Some people might hear the phrase “beneficial insects” and think this is clearly a misnomer. How can insects possibly be helpful? Isn’t that why they are called “bugs” after all?
But in actuality, some of these pesky critters can prove immensely helpful to your garden.
Insects have natural enemies. By introducing beneficial insects to prey upon destructive insects that are eating plants, you have laid the foundation for an organic garden.
Ladybugs are an excellent example of a beneficial insect. These spotted beauties prey upon aphids and other similar soft bodied insects. Ladybugs are drawn to flower pollen and nectar which they need for reproduction.
All spiders eat insects, therefore proving to be extremely important to organic gardening.
Straw mulch is a huge draw to spiders, encouraging them to take residence in a garden. Garden variety spiders are not poisonous, and prefer to remain outdoors, so you need not worry about them following you inside.
Flower flies, which look a lot like little honeybees, are attracted to flowers and their pollen and nectar. These flower flies prey upon aphids and are able to get into tight spots other beneficial bugs can’t fit into. Flower flies are also active earlier in the season before other bugs, getting a head start warding off aphids in the spring. Flower flies are also helpful to pollinate berries such as strawberries and raspberries.
Wasps are an extremely important category of “good bug”. They are known to attack the eggs of other detrimental insects, keeping populations of “bad bugs” under control. They are attracted to gardens by flowers for pollen and nectar.
Ground beetles prey upon slugs, snails, cutworms and root maggots. In order to draw beetles to your garden, consider growing perennial ground cover or placing logs, stones or rocks nearby for them to burrow under.
With a little thought and planning you will attract the right kind of bugs that help you to sustain a beautiful garden chemically free.
But in actuality, some of these pesky critters can prove immensely helpful to your garden.
Insects have natural enemies. By introducing beneficial insects to prey upon destructive insects that are eating plants, you have laid the foundation for an organic garden.
Ladybugs are an excellent example of a beneficial insect. These spotted beauties prey upon aphids and other similar soft bodied insects. Ladybugs are drawn to flower pollen and nectar which they need for reproduction.
All spiders eat insects, therefore proving to be extremely important to organic gardening.
Straw mulch is a huge draw to spiders, encouraging them to take residence in a garden. Garden variety spiders are not poisonous, and prefer to remain outdoors, so you need not worry about them following you inside.
Flower flies, which look a lot like little honeybees, are attracted to flowers and their pollen and nectar. These flower flies prey upon aphids and are able to get into tight spots other beneficial bugs can’t fit into. Flower flies are also active earlier in the season before other bugs, getting a head start warding off aphids in the spring. Flower flies are also helpful to pollinate berries such as strawberries and raspberries.
Wasps are an extremely important category of “good bug”. They are known to attack the eggs of other detrimental insects, keeping populations of “bad bugs” under control. They are attracted to gardens by flowers for pollen and nectar.
Ground beetles prey upon slugs, snails, cutworms and root maggots. In order to draw beetles to your garden, consider growing perennial ground cover or placing logs, stones or rocks nearby for them to burrow under.
With a little thought and planning you will attract the right kind of bugs that help you to sustain a beautiful garden chemically free.
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