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| Photo Credit: ©2006 Buglady Consulting |
| These aphids have been killed by beneficial wasps. |
Need some help controlling the pests on your plants? Why not enlist some of the beneficial insects, mites and spiders you have right in your own back yard?! What will beneficials do for you? They’ll feed on pest insects and mites, controlling these problems so you don’t have to spray.
First, you have to know who the good guys are. Oh, ladybugs – they get all the credit. Yes, they’re beneficial to have around, but they’re just one of the many insects that can help you out in the garden. Other beneficial insects include hover flies, lacewings, wasps, rove beetles, soldier beetles, true bugs and many, many more! And don’t forget the spiders – they do a lot of eating in their webs too! On an even smaller scale, there are things like predatory mites and beneficial nematodes that you’ll never see working, but trust me – they’re there, invisibly working for you. Now, to use nature to your advantage, it’s best to think like an insect: Think about what might appeal to you. To attract these good guys to your yard, you have to provide what they like – and that’s food! Who wouldn’t want a smorgasbord of delights to feed on? This doesn’t mean you need to put out plates of insects for them to feast. Many beneficials also feed on nectar and pollen as part of their diet. Adult beneficial flies, midges and parasitic wasps need flower nectar to give them the energy to lay eggs, while ladybird beetles, lacewings and minute pirate bugs supplement their diets with pollen. Once these adult beneficials find their way into your garden, they’ll tend to stay and lay eggs, proving a new generation of beneficials. So to provide beneficials with these alternate foods, you need provide the flowers.
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