‘Good’ bugs you’ll want to attract for a healthier garden

Skip the harsh chemicals — there are ‘good’ insects that can naturally keep pests in check in your garden.

So, the next time you spot one of these helpful bugs, don’t be quick to squish it! They’re your allies in maintaining a healthy garden.

Bees

Many homeowners look for ways to get rid of bees out of fear of being stung. However, these buzzing insects are essential to our ecosystem and are among nature’s most effective pollinators.

Without bees, the variety of flowers and plants around us would significantly diminish, impacting everything from our gardens to the food on our plates. In fact, about 30 percent of our diet depends directly on bee pollination of fruits, vegetables, and other plants. So, before swatting them away, consider the crucial role they play in supporting our food supply and biodiversity.

Lacewings

Lacewings are fantastic predators. They will snap up on a wide variety of plant-destroying pests, including aphids, scales, thrips, mealybugs and caterpillars. Lacewings also frequently feed on eggs, nectar pollen and honey. Interestingly, their larvae eat an impressive 200 insects a week.

Ground beetles

Ground beetles are a valuable asset in any garden due to their nocturnal habits, which make them effective at tackling nighttime pests like mosquitoes, slugs, and cutworms. These beetles are natural hunters, patrolling your garden after dark and preying on a variety of insects and larvae that can damage plants.

With over 2,500 species of ground beetles, each with a unique diet, they help keep pest populations in check without the need for chemical intervention. Plus, ground beetles are hardy and low-maintenance; once established in your garden, they require little to no effort to keep them around. By attracting ground beetles, you’re inviting in a powerful ally for natural pest control, promoting a healthier, balanced ecosystem in your garden.

Soldier beetles

Soldier beetles are great partners to have in your garden. These incredible insects are most useful in late summer, when aphids and other insects begin to lay their eggs, which the soldier beetles eat. Soldier beetles also help control pests such as caterpillars.

Lady beetles

Lady beetle adults eats their fair share of aphids, mealybugs and mites, but it’s their larvae that are particularly fantastic. They can get an aphid and mite infestation under control in no time. While majority of lady beetles are good, do keep an eye our for the 28-spotted lady beetle, tough, which is known to munch through your garden.