For many of us, summertime is the perfect opportunity to go outside and take care of our gardens.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of pesky bugs just waiting to turn your hard-grown plants into their own personal buffet. But before you reach for harmful chemicals to eliminate all those creepy crawlers, it's important to remember that not all of the insects and arachnids in your garden are looking to turn your plants into shreds. In fact, some of them might provide you with some good, old-fashioned, natural pest control!
There are nearly a million different species of insects in the world, so it's no surprise that there are some pretty interesting bugs out there. I mean, just look at these fluffy white creatures that look like they came straight out of a fantasy world!
Even though there are plenty of bugs that look more creepy than cute, they all play important roles in the ecosystem. We've shown you before that planting certain herbs and flowers can attract the all-important honey bee to your yard and help their population grow, but there are also others enjoy feasting on garden pests…and all you have to do to keep them around is provide the right environment and, you know, not kill them
Check out all these beneficial bugs and see if you have any hanging out in your yard! Chances are, they're helping your garden stay safe from harmful and hungry insects.
Don't forget to SHARE this post with all your friends so they know which bugs are great for helping gardens grow!
1. Ladybugs
Ladybugs are so good for your garden that you can actually order them online to release onto your plants. Both the larvae and the adults feed on pests such as aphids, mealybugs, and mites.
2. Ground Beetle
If you've ever turned over a rock or log and seen a shiny, long-legged black or brown beetle scuttle out, you've probably seen a ground beetle. These insects feed on slugs, snails, and various types of larvae. If you want to encourage their presence in your garden, provide plenty of rocks, logs, or lawn decorations they can hide under.
3. Praying Mantises
If you have larger pests in your garden, such as caterpillars, praying mantises are the perfect way to make sure they get gobbled up before your plants do. These unique critters will eat just about anything, though (including their own siblings), so if you find a few crawling around, be aware that they might eat some of your other beneficial bugs, too.
4. Green Lacewings
These dainty bugs prefer to eat flower nectar as adults, but as larvae, they're enthusiastic carnivores. They'll eat aphids, moth eggs, thrips, mites, and even small caterpillars, so they're the perfect babies to have around if you want to keep your plants free of holes.
5. Tachinid Flies
They look a lot like normal house flies, but you won't find tachinid flies on piles of garbage or dog poop. These insects much prefer to spend their time around pollen or nectar, much of which they can get from eating tiny bugs like aphids. Their larvae also can help keep your plants alive and well by burrowing themselves into caterpillars and eating them from the inside out.
6. Honey Bees
Many people are afraid of the back end of these powerful pollinators. The reality, though, is that honey bees have no interest in stinging you unless they feel threatened. They're much more interested in collecting nectar and pollen from flowers, and their assistance in helping us grow our food is estimated to be worth billions of dollars. Planting colorful flowers and avoiding harmful pesticides not only helps your garden become more beautiful, it also helps our planet become a more bountiful place.
7. Spiders
I know, I know — this is where many people draw the line. However, the next time you're outside and find a spider web, try to muster up the courage to take a closer look. It doesn't take long at all for these arachnids to spin pretty large webs that can capture nearly any type of bug. And best of all, the spiders you find in your garden probably have no interest in coming into your house.
8. Minute Pirate Bugs
"Minute" because they're tiny, and "pirate" because they can inflict a good amount of pain onto larger creatures (like a small pirate ship to a larger vessel), these itty bitty bugs are aggressive and will eat just about anything. They prefer to prey on aphids and mites, and they're so small that you probably won't even know they're out and about.
9. Damsel Bugs
Damsel bugs will eat most soft-bodied insects, such as aphids, caterpillars, and thrips. Their front legs are thicker than their other ones for a reason: They use them to grab their prey, and their victims usually don't even see it coming thanks to the damsel bug's brown coloring that makes it easy for them to blend in with their surroundings.
10. Dragonflies
If you live in a wet area or have a pond in your yard, you're probably used to having mosquitoes buzzing around all the stagnant water. Luckily, dragonflies also love damp, marshy areas, and they happen to be a mosquito predator. They also munch on aphids, so if you see them around, let them enjoy their snacktime.
11. Soldier Beetles
If you have a serious bug problem, these colorful beetles might be your solution. Like the praying mantis, soldier beetles don't discriminate when it comes to lunchtime, so they're a great way to get rid of not only pests like caterpillars and aphids, but also any other creepy creatures that you want gone.
12. Braconid Wasps
When you think of wasps, you probably think of those terrifying blackish-brown insects that build huge nests and try to sting you. However, many wasps are much smaller and have no desire at all to hurt humans. The Braconid wasp actually helps us out by injecting their eggs into live hosts, such as the larvae of other bugs like moths and aphids. The wasp larvae get their nutrients from their host, which eventually dies when the babies have completed their development.
Don't forget to SHARE these beneficial bugs with everyone you know!
