Beneficial Insects for Your Lawn or Garden

As we head through the summer we have to consistently be on the lookout for pests that might damage our lawn and gardens. When we see the signs of a pest invasion our first reaction is to grab the pesticides and go to town. But not all the insects in your yard and especially your garden, are pests. There are a number of beneficial insects that not only help pollinate your flowers and vegetables but also aid in pest control. Here’s a list of some of the beneficial insects that you can add to your garden for a natural way to control pests.

Ladybugs

Ladybugs are the kings of beneficial insects, or are they the queens? Everyone knows these harmless insects are a gardener’s best friend. Not only are they non-threatening looking but they also feed on aphids. Ladybugs can be purchased in bulk, so you can release the hordes upon the unsuspecting pests feasting off your plants.

Braconid Wasps

It’s hard to think of wasps as beneficial when just the sight of them makes you want to jump in a pool and let’s be honest, this wasp could take the cake as the scariest wasp in our nightmares. But we shouldn’t judge books or insects by their cover. Braconid wasps actually help control pests in your garden by preying on caterpillars, beetles, aphids, and stink bugs. The wasps lay their eggs in the dead prey and when the eggs hatch, the larvae consume the body. Even though their stingers look like they could stop your heart, they rarely attack humans.

Soldier Bugs

A highly efficient predator, the spined soldier bug preys on some of the most damaging lawn insects, including grubs, caterpillars, the European corn borer, Gypsy moth caterpillars, cabbage loopers, and cabbage worms, just to name a few. Adult soldier bugs hunt amongst your garden plants and suck out the juices of their prey. Females lay barrel-shaped egg clusters on stems and leaves, each cluster can contain 20 to 30 eggs. 

Praying Mantis

The majestic praying mantis is a rare but wonderful sight to see in a garden. Everyone knows those mantises are the gentle giants of the insect world. However, among the insect world, praying mantises are one of the top predators to be on the lookout for. Mantises make great additions to the garden and an efficient security system. You can actually purchase mantis eggs and place them around your yard and garden for a fun and natural way to control pests.

Damsel Bugs

Damsel bugs contribute significantly to the control of plant damaging insects. They are soft-bodied insects with long antennae and legs. They are about ⅜ to ½ inch long and are usually grey or brown in color. Damsel bugs feed on aphids, caterpillars, leafhoppers, and thrips. Unfortunately, these beneficial insects can’t be purchased.

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