A flourishing garden is the perfect home for garden insects, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you’re new to gardening, you may be tempted to combat pests using pesticides. However, it’s important to know that some insects, no matter how pesky they may seem, are actually beneficial for your garden.
In the world of gardening, there are beneficial insects, harmful insects, and those that are simply pests—neither helping nor hurting your garden. Managing insects, rather than indiscriminately killing them, will help your garden thrive. Some insects are essential for pollination, while others serve to protect your plants by keeping harmful insects away.
Beneficial Insects
Beneficial insects fall into three categories: pollinators, predators, and insect parasites. Bees and wasps are among the most well-known pollinators. Pollination is the process of transferring pollen from the stamen (the male part) to the ovule (the female part) of a plant. While pollination can occur naturally through wind, water, or birds, insects make the process easier. A well-pollinated garden will have a higher yield and improved quality.
Predatory insects help keep harmful pests in check by feeding on them and their eggs. Ladybugs (also known as lady beetles) are especially helpful because they feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects. They also eat aphid eggs, preventing the population from growing. Best of all, ladybugs are not only beneficial, but they’re also cute!
Ground beetles are another great garden ally, as they feed on snails and caterpillars that can damage plants. Green lacewings are effective at controlling aphids; their larvae are even called “aphid lions” for their voracious appetite. Praying mantids are excellent predators that eat a wide range of insects. Predatory mites are also beneficial for controlling spider mites, which can be damaging to plants.
Insect parasites, like tachinid flies and ichneumonid wasps, are also helpful in controlling beetles, caterpillars, and other harmful insects.
Harmful Insects
There are several harmful insects that may take an interest in your garden. Aphids are one of the most common pests, and they love to feast on garden vegetables. Grasshoppers can be devastating because they eat the leaves of vegetable plants. Leafhoppers suck sap from plants, causing the leaves to turn brown. Other damaging insects include earwigs, cutworms, flea beetles, potato beetles, slugs, spider mites, and some types of maggots.
Keeping harmful insects out of your garden can be challenging but is essential for a healthy garden. If you allow these detrimental insects to roam freely, they can wreak havoc and leave your garden in ruins. Protecting your garden from these pests will help ensure a productive and beautiful garden.
Managing Insects
Managing the insects in your garden is entirely possible. The first step is to learn about the different types of insects in your garden and distinguish between the beneficial and harmful ones.
The internet is a great resource for identifying insects, especially if you already know their names. However, having a reference book with pictures of insects will help you identify the ones in your garden more easily. Beneficial insects can be purchased online or at most full-service garden shops.
If you’re dealing with a specific pest problem, research natural methods for eliminating them. While insecticides are often suggested, it’s worth considering whether a beneficial insect could do the same job more naturally. In many cases, beneficial insects can replace pesticides.
Pesticides and insecticides can be harmful—not just to the pests, but also to your plants and beneficial insects. These chemicals can be toxic to humans, animals, and the environment, sometimes causing long-term damage.
Using beneficial garden insects is the most natural way to deal with pests. It fits into the natural circle of life, where predators keep pests in check. By making your garden a haven for pollinators, predators, and insect parasites, you can maintain a healthy balance of insects that promotes a thriving, safe, and prosperous garden. Having beneficial insects in your garden will reduce the need for hand-pollination and help manage harmful pests naturally.
