There are gardeners who think that every insect they see is
a pest and needs to be destroyed as quickly as possible,
when in reality there are some insects that actually help
your garden. They catch and eat any number of their harmful
cousins. To know which ones are beneficial will help you
decide which insects to eliminate and which ones to welcome.
It is important to realize that there will always be some
harmful insects in your garden, the key is to keep them
under control. Three insects that can help you to do this
are praying mantis, ladybugs and lacewings.They are
ferocious hunters and most beneficial to have around.
Lacewing larvae can eat up to 60 aphids in an hour. They
also eat whiteflies, mites, the eggs of caterpillars and a
variety of other small pests.
Ladybugs and their larvae consume up to 40 aphids per hour.
They also devour spider mites, beetle grubs, whiteflies and
other soft bodied insects.
Praying mantis are fierce predators that will eat a wide
variety of pests.
Apart from these three, there are other beneficial
insects which are common and can help destroy garden pests.
A variety of predator mites feed on harmful spider mites
and thrips without harming plants themselves.
Parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms in the soil that
eat their way into numerous soil dwelling pests including
grubs, sod webworms, carpenter worms, weevils and destroy
them.
Different kinds of wasps are very effective when it comes
to insect control. The Trichogramma wasps deposit their
larvae into the eggs of caterpillars, from where they eat
their way out, destroying the eggs. The Aphytis melinus,
another tiny parasitic wasp attacks and kills red scale
and Metaphycus helvolus attacks black scale.
Several species of small wasps attack whiteflies in their
immature stages. Many other tiny wasps help to control
flies when they lay their eggs in the pupae of several
types of them, including houseflies.
Most of these beneficial insects can be bought from
nurseries and garden supply stores for a few dollars. It is
best to release them in the evening because daylight
encourages flight. Be aware that without access to prey,
water and shelter they will fly away. It is necessary to
provide the right environment by growing many kinds of
plants in your garden. In return these 'good' insects will
help your garden to stay healthy and reduce the need to use
chemical pesticides.
----------------------------------------------------
The author has a Home and Garden Decor business where she
makes sure that her customers get the best deal as well as
expert advice. She is also an avid gardener with many years
of experience and likes to share her knowledge with others.
http://www.buyhomeandgardendecor.com/home.html
a pest and needs to be destroyed as quickly as possible,
when in reality there are some insects that actually help
your garden. They catch and eat any number of their harmful
cousins. To know which ones are beneficial will help you
decide which insects to eliminate and which ones to welcome.
It is important to realize that there will always be some
harmful insects in your garden, the key is to keep them
under control. Three insects that can help you to do this
are praying mantis, ladybugs and lacewings.They are
ferocious hunters and most beneficial to have around.
Lacewing larvae can eat up to 60 aphids in an hour. They
also eat whiteflies, mites, the eggs of caterpillars and a
variety of other small pests.
Ladybugs and their larvae consume up to 40 aphids per hour.
They also devour spider mites, beetle grubs, whiteflies and
other soft bodied insects.
Praying mantis are fierce predators that will eat a wide
variety of pests.
Apart from these three, there are other beneficial
insects which are common and can help destroy garden pests.
A variety of predator mites feed on harmful spider mites
and thrips without harming plants themselves.
Parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms in the soil that
eat their way into numerous soil dwelling pests including
grubs, sod webworms, carpenter worms, weevils and destroy
them.
Different kinds of wasps are very effective when it comes
to insect control. The Trichogramma wasps deposit their
larvae into the eggs of caterpillars, from where they eat
their way out, destroying the eggs. The Aphytis melinus,
another tiny parasitic wasp attacks and kills red scale
and Metaphycus helvolus attacks black scale.
Several species of small wasps attack whiteflies in their
immature stages. Many other tiny wasps help to control
flies when they lay their eggs in the pupae of several
types of them, including houseflies.
Most of these beneficial insects can be bought from
nurseries and garden supply stores for a few dollars. It is
best to release them in the evening because daylight
encourages flight. Be aware that without access to prey,
water and shelter they will fly away. It is necessary to
provide the right environment by growing many kinds of
plants in your garden. In return these 'good' insects will
help your garden to stay healthy and reduce the need to use
chemical pesticides.
----------------------------------------------------
The author has a Home and Garden Decor business where she
makes sure that her customers get the best deal as well as
expert advice. She is also an avid gardener with many years
of experience and likes to share her knowledge with others.
http://www.buyhomeandgardendecor.com/home.html
