Beneficial Insects For Your Garden Part 2

 

There are many insects that are bad for your garden. They will infest and destroy your beautiful flowers and plants. Don’t despair! There are many insects that are beneficial to your garden and they will combat the pests, and in most cases eat them.

The Centipede

The centipede is about ½ to 3 inches in length. They have one hundred legs and are light brown to black in color and they move very quickly. Centipedes have one pair of legs per segment. They kill their prey with venom, so the bite of a centipede can be somewhat painful but they are not poisonous to people. Centipedes eat insects and pests that are in the soil, such as:

• Slugs
• Worms
• Fly Pupae

The Green Lacewing

 

Green lacewings have delicate bodies that are light green in color. They have large clear wings and gold or copper colored eyes. Green lacewings vary in size from 1/2 to 3/4 inch long. Their larvae are small, grayish brown, and narrow. They have pincer-like mandibles. The eggs of a green lacewing can be found on plant stems and foliage; they can be laid single or in small groups on top of fine, silk stalks. They lay their eggs where they stop to eat. If you wish to attract green lacewings, plant flowers that produce nectar and pollen. Green Lacewings eat:

• Aphids
• Small insects
• Insect eggs
• Spider mites
• Leafhopper nymphs
• White flies
• Small caterpillars

The Honey Bee

The adult honey bee measures 2/3 inch long and they are fuzzy, with gold and black striped bodies and transparent wings. They can easily be identified by the balls of yellow pollen they carry on the backs of their legs. As pollinators they are important in the pollination of many plants. In order to attract them  grow flowering plants

 

The Lady Beetle

The lady beetle is most commonly known as the lady bug. The larvae are more valuable. They are soft bodied and alligator shaped with orange and black markings. Each species of lady bug has a distinct pattern.  In order to attract lady beetles plant flowers that produce pollen and nectar. If you allow weeds to grow, that can aid in your encouraging lady beetles to make their home in your garden. The larvae and the adults eat:

• Aphids
• Mealy bugs
• Scale insects
• Spider mites
• Insect eggs

The Mason Bee

The mason bee is a little smaller than a honey bee. They are gentle and non-aggressive insects. Mason bees resemble the house fly more than a honey bee. They are a blue black color. Mason bees pollinate fruit trees, they are very active in spring then they die out in the summer. If you wish to attract mason bees, drill a hole ¼ inch in diameter and 5 inches deep into a wooden block attach the block to a post outside near where you have seen them. The openings in the blocks should face the morning sun. These blocks should be in position no later than April first.

The Parasitic Wasp

The parasitic wasp is really too small to be very noticeable and do not sting people or pets. They can vary in size from 1/50 inch to 1 inch long.  The parasitic wasp reproduces by laying Its eggs in a pest host, which can be an adult or an egg. The immature wasp then eats inside and kills its host. A round hole can be seen where the adult parasitic wasp has chewed its way out. They tend to prey on:

• Aphids
• White flies
• Butterflies
• Moths
• Cabbage loppers
• Hornworms

Insects that prey on pests are great to have in your garden. They work as an alternative form of pest control so that pesticides are not necessary. Pesticides are unhealthy, especially if you are planting fruits or vegetables. Fruits and vegetables can absorb pesticides, so when you eat them you are also eating the chemicals that were used to “keep them safe” from pests. Also many species of beneficial insects can enhance the beauty of your garden with their own natural beauty. They are a great option for a tighter budget.