Garden Medley

Bugs. The word alone can make many people’s skin crawl. You picture spiders, ants, aphids and other pests that destroy your plants and make growing a beautiful garden much more work. However, there are many bugs you want your garden to have. They may keep away the problem bugs or otherwise help your garden.

The ladybug is popular with children, and is one example of a beneficial bug. You probably picture them as having a red body with black spots, but they may also have an orange or yellow body. They eat certain other insects, including aphids. Similarly, the aphid midge also eats aphids.

The assassin bug does just what its name implies. It eats many garden pests. It is around an inch long, looks rather flat and has an elongated head.

You probably already know that bees are great pollinators. You may dread their stings, but you do need them in your garden. Growing lots of flowers will help to attract them.

The big eyed bug has a name that children will love, whether or not they love the bug itself. It is quite fast, has large eyes, of course, and has a black spotted body. They eat pests such as grasshoppers, small caterpillars, aphids and spider mites.

The mealybug destroyer is another insect whose name defines what it does. It’s about a third of an inch in length, oval and coral colored. If you have mealybugs, look for this one and leave it along.

There are many other beneficial bugs such as tachinid flies, minute pirate bugs and tiger beetles. Learn about the beneficial bugs in your area and let them do their work. Your garden will benefit and you may realize how little you need to use poisons in your garden.