Bugs get a very bad rap from people. Yes, you need a good eco system in your garden and bugs are part of it. I did not list bees because even a kindergartener is taught how special they are. Hope you find a bit of knowledge you did not know previously to help your garden grow.

Ladybugs

Why They are Beneficial:

Aside from being a beautiful addition to your garden, ladybugs offer numerous benefits as they are a natural enemy to a variety of insects, particularly aphids and sap feeders. A single ladybug is capable of eating nearly 5,000 aphids during its lifespan (approximately fifty bugs a day). As a result, they are great for controlling/managing pests in your garden, crops, or landscapes (uky.edu).

How to Attract Ladybugs

In addition to aphids, ladybugs also feed on scale-insects, mites, potato beetles, and whiteflies. To attract these beneficial bugs, plant dandelion, fern-leaf yellow, basket of gold, and dill around your garden area. Because ladybugs enjoy pollen (in addition to insects), flowers such as Angelica, Marigolds, and Sweet Alyssum are also effective at attracting these tiny bugs. Another effective strategy for maintaining a ladybug presence is to plant “decoy plants” in your garden, such as cabbage and radishes that attract aphids (uky.edu). While the move may seem counterproductive, these plants will attract just enough aphids to your garden to keep your ladybugs hap

Praying Mantis

Why They are Beneficial:

Similar to the ladybug, a praying mantis is a beneficial addition to your garden due to its voracious appetite for bugs. Due to its size, few bugs can stand their own against a praying mantis attack. Hunting for prey around the clock, the mantis feeds on a large variety of insects including flies, caterpillars, crickets, grasshoppers, and moths (gardeninsects.com). As a result, the praying mantis is highly effective in controlling insect populations throughout your garden.

How to Attract Praying Mantises

To encourage praying mantises to come to your garden, avoid the use of pesticides, and plant a variety of flowers and herbs, such as dill and caraway. The praying mantis also needs water to thrive, so placing shallow dishes of water with a small layer of rocks (or pebbles) is also helpful. The inclusion of straw, or hay is also effective in attracting praying mantises as it affords them an effective means to hide from other predators in the area (gardeninsects.com). One important thing to note about the praying mantis, however, is that a mantis population can also be detrimental to your garden if not controlled. This is due to the fact that mantises do not discriminate between beneficial and harmful bugs and will consume helpful bugs such as ladybugs and bees if other food sources are not available.

Bumblebees

Why They are Beneficial:

Bumblebees (and most bees in general) are a beneficial addition to your garden due to their ability to aid in the pollination of plants. When bees travel from one flower to another, pollen grains stick to the bumblebee and are transferred to other flowers/plants when the bee lands on them. This process is known as “buzz pollination.” Bumblebees pollinate in all forms of weather and are responsible for approximately two-thirds of the total pollination that occurs in the United States each year. As a result, bumblebees are vital for gardens to grow and thrive.

How to Attract Bumblebees

To attract bumblebees to your garden, plant ground cover to provide them with a place to hide in-between feedings. Bees also need water to prevent dehydration. Remedy this by placing small (and shallow) dishes of water around your yard so that the bees will have something to sip on occasionally. Bumblebees also love flowers and flowering fruits/vegetables. Butterfly Weed, Poppies, and Lilies are particular favorites of bumblebees.

Ground Beetles

Why They are Beneficial:

Similar to the other insects on this list, ground beetles are a predatory species that prey on common garden pests. These small beetles which are primarily nocturnal, prey on both slugs and snails, as well as cutworms, cabbage maggots, ants, aphids, and caterpillars. One ground beetle, alone, is able to eat more than fifty caterpillars during its relatively short lifespan. In the United States, there are currently more than 2,500 known species of ground beetles.

How to Attract Ground Beetles

To attract these beneficial beetles to your garden, build small, raised garden beds with native perennials and grasses (along with a solid layer of mulch). Avoid the use of insecticides, and provide the area with large rocks and/or logs for the beetles to hide (and take shelter) under.

Dragonflies

Why They are Beneficial:

Another beneficial insect for your garden is the dragonfly. Similar to the praying mantis, dragonflies are relatively large, and prey on a large variety of garden pests. Capable of flying at speeds of nearly thirty-five miles per hour, dragonflies are great for controlling flying insects, as well as moths and midges. Dragonflies are also great for controlling mosquito populations in the vicinity of your home. These insects are capable of eating their own body weight (in bugs) every half-hour

How to Attract Dragonflies

To attract dragonflies to your garden, provide your garden with a small pond or fountain as the females like to lay their eggs in wet/muddy areas. Dot your ponds and fountains with water lilies and other forms of submerged vegetation to provide refuge for female dragonflies. As with all the other insects on this list, also avoid the use of pesticides and bug zappers as well.

Green Lacewing

Why They are Beneficial:

Another great addition to your garden is the green lacewing. These bugs are a natural enemy to soft-bodied insects, as their larvae are known to prey on aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, thrips, grasshoppers, and mealybugs until they reach full maturity. They have also been known to attack small caterpillars, as well as a large variety of beetles, and are capable of consuming upwards of 200+ pests per week (insectary.com). Upon reaching adulthood, the green lacewing subsists primarily on nectar and pollen, before laying additional eggs (upwards of 200 at a time) that continue their life cycle.

How to Attract Green Lacewings

To attract the green lacewing to your garden, adequate ground cover such as grass, shrubs and trees are necessary for larvae development. Flowers and herbs such as daisies, dandelions, goldenrod, sunflowers, dill, oregano, and mountain mint are excellent food sources for the green lacewings to thrive. For gardeners with adequate environments already developed, the green lacewing is also available commercially, and can be purchased from a variety of stores and websites. As with all insects on this list, however, pesticides (either natural or standard) should be avoided when implementing these bugs into your garden.

Minute Pirate Bug

Why They are Beneficial:

The minute pirate bug is a common insect predator found from the Anthocoridae family of bugs. These insects make for an excellent addition to gardens, as they are known to actively feed on a large array of garden pests, including (but not limited to) aphids, caterpillars, thrips, and spider mites. Despite being incredibly small (reaching only 1/8” inch long), the pirate bug uses a “sharp needle-like beak” that allows it to latch on to its prey, and literally suck the juices out of its body (entomology.wisc.edu). Fully matured pirate bugs are capable of consuming upwards of 30+ spider mites a day, making them an excellent choice for gardeners who prefer natural pest control options.

How to Attract Minute Pirate Bugs

To attract minute pirate bugs to your garden, incorporate flowering plants and shrubs such as marigolds, cosmos, caraway, alfalfa, spearmint, and goldenrod. These plants provide a secondary source of food to the pirate bug when prey is limited, as they enjoy both their pollen and nectar. The use of pesticides and insecticides should also be avoided as much as possible. As with many beneficial bugs on this list, the minute pirate bug is also available for purchase from a variety of stores and websites.

Braconid Wasp

Why They are Beneficial:

The braconid wasp is a member of the Hymenoptera family of bugs, and is an excellent addition to gardens due to their ability to feed on a large array of pests. The braconid wasp is considered a parasite due to the fact that it injects eggs into “host” insects by stinging its victims with an ovipositor. As the eggs hatch inside their host, the larvae begin to consume the insect’s body as they develop; eventually killing their host and emerging as fully-grown braconid wasps. Although hornworms are often their primary source of food, the braconid wasp is known to attack upwards of 1,000+ species of insects, making them a perfect choice for gardeners who prefer to avoid pesticides (tamu.edu).

How to Attract Braconid Wasps

Braconid wasps prefer warm, temperate climates and are best-suited to environments where summers are both hot and humid. To attract these bugs to your garden, plant numerous flowers and herbs such as alyssum, chamomile, catnip, feverfew, buckwheat, dill, and fennel due to their ability to produce both nectar and pollen (tamu.edu).

Aphid Midge

Why They are Beneficial:

Aphid midges are tiny fly-like insects known to consume large quantities of aphids due to their voracious appetites. Aphid midges have been observed eating sixty different species of aphids (which consume vegetable crops, fruit trees, and ornamentals), making them a beneficial bug for any garden environment. At less than 1/8” inch long, the aphid midges are remarkably small, and often spend much of the day hiding under leaves. At night, the insects emerge, however, to actively hunt; consuming upwards of 65 aphids per day. Aphid midges attack their prey by biting and injecting their victims with poison that paralyzes them; allowing the midge to consume bugs at its leisure. Introducing these bugs into your garden offers an effective means of controlling aphids for the duration of the growing season, as these insects will reproduce multiple times throughout the year.

How to Attract Aphid Midges

Aphid midges can be found throughout all of North America and in parts of Europe. They can be attracted to your garden by planting a variety of nectar and pollen-producing plants/flowers, and require a source of water to thrive. Because of their small and lightweight size, aphid midges also require protection from the wind. Gardeners can remedy this problem by strategically placing large rocks around their garden’s perimeter. Aphid midges are also available for purchase at a wide array of stores and websites.

Spined Soldier Bug

Why They are Beneficial:

The spined soldier bug is a medium-sized species of stink bug that is known to prey on nearly 90+ species of garden pests. Potential prey includes the Mexican bean beetle, diamondback moth, earworm, cabbageworm, potato beetle, caterpillar, and flea beetle (ufl.edu). Best suited for warmer climates, the spined soldier bug is an excellent choice for gardeners who wish to control pests in a more natural manner; avoiding the use of dangerous pesticides or insecticides. The bug consumes its prey by latching on to its victims and by sucking out its inner fluids. Living upwards of 180 days, the soldier bug is known to consume upwards of 100 caterpillars during its lifetime, along with a large number of other insects.

How to Attract Spined Soldier Bugs

The spined soldier bug is best-suited for gardens containing potatoes, tomatoes, corn, eggplants, beans, apples, onions, and asparagus as these crops are known to attract a large variety of prey. Planting perennials and ground cover provides the bug with adequate shelter (and a secondary source of food when pest-populations begin to dwindle). Although the soldier bug is known to suck on vegetable and plant juices when its food sources are low, research has shown that the bugs cause no harm to crops. These insects are also available for purchase at a variety of stores and websites; however, it should be noted that the cost of these bugs has grown substantially over the last few decades due to their popularity with commercial growers.

Damsel Bugs

Why They are Beneficial:

Damsel bugs are from the Nabidae family of insects. Damsel bugs got their name because of the way they hold their front legs up in the air- as if holding up the hem of a skirt. They range from green to tan to brown and have veined wings over their backs

The good news is their prey are common garden pests such as insect eggs, aphids, mites, and even small caterpillars.

Damsel bugs are what’s known as a “generalist predator,” which basically means they aren’t picky eaters. Damsel bugs will also eat other predatorial insects such as the minute pirate bug or assassin bugs. And if the prey is scarce, they will eat each other.

How to Attract Them:

While you can’t buy Damsel bugs, you can encourage them to hang out in your garden. Discontinue the use of pesticides and provide a diverse variety of plants to entice them to hang around.

Tachinid Fly

Why They are Beneficial:

One of the things that I think is really neat about these flies is that they insert their larvae into a “bad bug” and when the larvae hatch they eat the bug from the inside out. If the tachinid fly decides to lay their larvae somewhere else and a bug comes up and eats the larvae, their lunch will eventually kill them and the larvae will still live.

There are many more of these bugs than have even been named but the bad bugs they kill all have names that make any gardener cringe- including gypsy moths, cabbage loopers, Japanese beetles, armyworms, cutworms, sawflies, codling moths, peach twig borers, pink bollworms, tent caterpillars, squash bugs, and many more.

What is even more interesting is that part of the reason they do not have a name is that they are so small that we often miss them in the garden. They can be up to the size of a house fly but are typically less than half an inch in length.

In addition to killing bad bugs, these flies will also help the bees pollinate your garden. You get double the benefit and rarely ever see these flies. This makes it good for everyone involved… well, except for the bad bugs.

How to Attract Them:

To attract them you should plant dill, parsley, clover, and herbs. Yeah for herbs

Predatory mites

Why They are Beneficial:

These little critters are handy to keep around your home if you find yourself battling with spider mites. Unless you live in a humid climate, they probably won’t naturally draw to your garden.

How to Attract Them:

Instead, they prefer extreme humidity from structures like a greenhouse and high tunnels. If spider mites have made their way into your greenhouse, you’ll want predatory mites around to help.

Mealybug destroyer

Why They are Beneficial:

As the name suggests, mealybug destroyers go after pesky mealybugs. Mealybugs look like little clusters of fluff stuck to plants. However, they feed on the sap of your plants and can harm them. This is the doom of succulents.

How to Attract Them:

If you plant fennel, dill, sunflowers, or goldenrod you could draw mealybug destroyers and kick mealybugs out of your garden for good.

Hoverflies

Why They are Beneficial:

While we are on the topic of flies, another good variety to have hanging around your garden are hoverflies. They will prey on Aphids, Scale insects and Caterpillars.

How to Attract Them:

This variety of fly is only drawn to a few items, though. You’ll need to grow common yarrow, fern-leaf yarrow, dill, or basket of gold to attract this type of fly to your garden.

Fungus Gnat Predator

Why They are Beneficial:

These pests are helpful in combatting multiple different insects and their larvae. They will stand against: Spider mites, Fungus Gnats and Gnat larvae.

How to Attract Them:

You will most likely have to purchase these mites from a reputable distributor. They recommend you be careful using pesticides before introducing them into your garden. From there, the mites should handle the fungus gnats until the population is minimized and eventually destroyed.

Spiders

Why They are Beneficial:

One of the biggest benefits of having spiders in your garden is that they can eat harmful insects. Yes, if you want to get rid of unwanted insects such as flies, mosquitoes, beetles, wasps, and aphids, you need to keep spiders in your garden.

How to Attract Them:

In order to get spiders to your garden, you need a place for them to spin their webs. This means that larger plants, such as corn, will do really well at attracting these bugs.

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Other Beneficial Non-Insect Animals for Your Garden

Toads

Why They are Beneficial:

Toads are beneficial to the garden because they feed on many pests such as, bugs, beetles, caterpillars, cutworms, grasshoppers, grubs, slugs, and a variety of other pests. A single frog can eat over 100 insects in one night.

How to Attract Them:

Building toad houses will attract these beneficial amphibians. So having a place with shelter and moist shade. If you are curious about how to make a toad house,

Garter Snakes

Why They are Beneficial:

Garter Snakes also eat bad bugs from the garden and control crickets, grasshoppers, and other insects. Not having legs means that the garden snake is able to get into areas that are different from the other bugs or animals we have mentioned before now.

I also want to note that if you struggle with mice, a garden snake is another one to leave alone as well. They will eat your mice that are causing problems.

How to Attract Them:

Attract them by having some tall grass, bushes, or piles of woods or rocks. If you have a fireplace that uses wood, you should already have a woodpile.

Earthworms

Why They are Beneficial:

Earthworms are a great addition to your garden. They will aerate your soil, their waste will make your soil richer, and they are excellent at breaking down everything you spread on your garden.

However, you should be careful of applying synthetic fertilizers to your garden when introducing earthworms to your garden because they will find a new home when the soil around them changes. In the case of adding synthetic fertilizers, it makes the soil salty and less desirable for the worms.

How to Attract Them:

1. Sprinkle 1 to 2 pounds of cornmeal over roughly 18 square feet of garden space. …
2. Mix the cornmeal into the top 3 inches of garden soil with a shovel.
3. Water the area so the soil remains consistently moist but not wet. Avoid wet, soggy soils as excess water drowns out the worms.
4. Wait one month for the garden to produce enough bacteria and attract enough worms to process the cornmeal you added and will be adding in the future.
5. Resume feeding by adding 1 to 2 pounds of cornmeal about every two weeks.
6. Monitor your garden periodically for an increase in earthworm activity, both from earthworms that you’ve attracted to your garden and from their offspring.

Nematodes

This option for a beneficial insect isn’t an insect at all, but it’s helpful and worth the share. Beneficial nematodes are a parasite which goes to town on protecting your garden. They eat over 200+ insects who start their lives in your garden soil.

Nematodes aid to control; Weevils, Japanese beetles, Fleas and Fungus Gnats

It is best to purchase beneficial nematodes to introduce them to your garden. From there, you may have to reintroduce more beneficial nematodes each year as they frequently die off during the harshness of winter.

Having bugs in your garden might gross you out at first but when you come to realize that they are benefitting from your hospitality just as you are benefitting from them being there, then you realize this is a symbiotic relationship and all is well.

Your garden survives without harsh chemicals, making the food you eat better for you and for the world around you.

#goodbugs #BeneficialInsects #gardeing #ladybugs