THESE PESTS WON’T BUG YOU
With the growing season upon us we are faced with one unpleasant
consequence — bugs! There is a host of insects that love
to feed on your vegetation, but there is also a whole other group
of insects that loves to feed on these troublemakers.
Good insects are those that will prey on insects harmful to your plants and who will help pollinate your garden. Ladybugs, lacewings, predatory wasps, praying mantis and some spiders will help cut down on the amount of insecticides that are required for a good harvest or healthy plants. More and more gardeners are turning to organic means of pest control, and while horticulturists acknowledge the need for occasional chemical treatment, over time these predators can actually help with your pest problem.
ATTRACTING GOOD INSECTS
A garden survives on a natural system of checks and balances
— and
when it comes to pest control it is important to acknowledge that
many of our perceived problems are indeed natural components of
the garden: their simple presence doesn’t necessarily spell
trouble. In a diversified garden, most insect pests are kept in
check by natural forces, such as predators and weather. It is
important to choose a form of intervention that will return the
situation to a normal balance with the least risk of also destroying
the helpful organisms that maintain the equilibrium.
COMMON GARDEN PESTS & THEIR PREDATORS
Aphids Lacewings, ladybird beetles & parasitic wasps Mealybugs Ladybird beetles & lacewing larvae Mites Lacewing larvae & ladybird beetles Scale Insects Aphytis wasps Thrips Ladybird beetles, green lacewing larvae &
predaceous thrips and mitesWhiteflies
Tiny wasp species & ladybird beetles
A garden that has a variety of plants will attract helpful insects by providing food, water, shelter, and prey. Wild Queen Anne’s Lace, anise, coriander, caraway, cumin, dill, fennel, lovage, and parsley are all excellent garden plants to attract good insects. Sunflowers, strawflowers, black-eyed Susan, coreopsis, goldenrod, yarrow, and santolina are of the daisy family and produce small amounts of nectar which can provide needed food for predatory and parasitic wasps. Hopefully these reconmendations and solutions help control the pest problem in your garden or yard.