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February 7, 2020 in Pest Control

Good bug. Bad bug. Here’s the scoop!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I'll make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
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Regardless of how much they might make your skin crawl, insects are not all bad. Most of them are harmless and are very good for your garden.

But we’re not denying that there are also garden insects you want to get rid of immediately.

Here’s a short guide on the bugs you want to leave alone in your garden and the bugs that should leave your garden alone.

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Image credit: Unsplash

Ladybugs

Coccinellidae, ladybird, lady beetles — they go by many names, but they’re more commonly known in the US as ladybugs.

This family of spotted beetles are widely known as beneficial insects in gardens and croplands.

Their choice of prey are agricultural pests like aphids and scale insects, so they’re very practical to have around.

To attract them, writer Melissa King recommends growing fragrant plants like angelica, marigold, dill, and fennel.

Make sure there’s enough water for lady bugs to drink and ground cover for their protection.

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Damsel Bugs

Another predator to garden pests is the damsel bug. They’re brown, long, and thin, and are considered generalist predators.

This means they’re not really picky when it comes to their prey. Aside form aphids and scale insects, they also feed on moth eggs, caterpillars, cabbage loopers, and mites.

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Image credit: Unsplash

Ground Beetle

Shiny black beetles with rounded bodies are a common sight in most gardens. They like to take cover under rocks and burrow underground for protection.

Don’t shoo them away, as these nocturnal insects also eat common garden pests like ants, slugs, and maggots.

Other species even get hungry for seeds of invasive weeds like thistle. Given their choice of shelter, make sure to scatter rocks and logs to attract them. 

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Wasps

They might be notorious for their painful stings, but in the right environment, wasps are actually something to be thankful for. They’re mostly harmless and only sting in defense.

Their stings are, however, deadly for small insects, and they’re considered apex predators who feed on common garden pests. They also help pollinate the garden, which is key for a healthy ecosystem.

Another thing to know about these winged creatures is their love for sugary things, which is why they tend to wander inside your home.

​To keep them out, this guide by HomeServe suggests covering trash cans, food containers, and cleaning up scraps. This ensures that they stay outdoors, where they can focus on hunting down pests. 

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Spiders

There are thousands of species of spiders, and if you were to be afraid of some of them, garden spiders shouldn’t make that list.

Some spiders are harmless arachnids overall, despite their scary spindly legs. They can maintain ecological balance by eating flying insects that come their way. 

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Image credit: Pexels

Japanese Beetles

Don’t be fooled by their mesmerizing sheen; Japanese beetles have an appetite for leaves, flowers, and fruit.

Thought Co. adds that their populations increase during warm weather which spells bad news for your plants as they can completely obliterate them. 

Small holes in your crops are telltale signs of a cabbage looper infestation. If you maintain cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, you definitely want to get rid of these chunky bugs.

The good news is that you can remove them safely by hand, and without the use of harmful pesticides.

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Image credit: Unsplash

Aphids

Small, green to orange, and almost translucent, aphids are a known enemy of gardeners. They are quick and move in numbers, and they also like to suck the sap on plants.

Fallen leaves, distorted plant growth, and mold growth are signs of an aphid infestation. 

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Scale Insects

Scale insects are another example of sap-sucking bugs.

The Spruce points out that they may be difficult to identify because their appearance varies in color, size, and shape. However, they’re usually rounded and look like fungal growth.

They are also difficult to remove, especially in their adult stage. It’s best to spray them with pesticide during their “crawler stage.” 

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Slugs

Slugs may look harmless, and in the wild, they’re helpful in recycling organic matter. In gardens, however, they can be extremely damaging as they eat any kind of vegetation available.

​Their slimy trail attracts other slugs, which means an infestation can quickly occur. Lastly, slugs are disease carriers that can infect pets and humans alike.

What’s your favorite bug? 

49 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenn koziol says

    June 25, 2022 at 8:11 pm

    Thank you for all the great info!

    Reply
  2. Chad Boyd says

    June 25, 2022 at 8:15 pm

    It seems the bugs are having a record year here this year!

    Reply
  3. Phyllis Skoglund says

    June 25, 2022 at 9:22 pm

    Most of the bugs are harmless and are very good for your garden. This applies to bacteria as well.

    Reply
  4. sara crisco says

    June 25, 2022 at 10:19 pm

    Thanks for all the great info!

    Reply
  5. Monica M says

    June 25, 2022 at 11:57 pm

    Great info even though I hate bugs 🙂

    Reply
  6. Sam says

    June 26, 2022 at 12:14 am

    Good to know the friendlies from the pests

    Reply
  7. Barrie says

    June 26, 2022 at 12:32 am

    Some bugs are creepy looking but glad to know there is good in all.

    Reply
  8. Sandra McFadden says

    June 26, 2022 at 2:19 am

    Thanks for sharing. I knew a few were good bugs and was unaware of some of the other bugs being bad as I have no encounters with them when I garden.

    Reply
  9. Susan P. says

    June 26, 2022 at 2:20 am

    I like having spiders in my garden. I didn’t know that slugs are disease carriers.

    Reply
  10. Liz Kilcher says

    June 26, 2022 at 3:51 am

    i love ladybugs

    Reply
  11. Rose Reeder says

    June 26, 2022 at 3:57 am

    Thanks for the info, we need bugs for our gardens even we don’t like them.

    Reply
  12. Diane Warstler says

    June 26, 2022 at 5:30 am

    Very interesting information. I still like ladybugs the best!

    Reply
  13. Joanna says

    June 26, 2022 at 7:45 am

    Thank you for a great informative article

    Reply
  14. Lisa says

    June 26, 2022 at 7:53 am

    I’ve had slugs for years. Never knew they could cause harm to animals and pets. Once more, you’ve taught me something I did not know.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  15. Bradley Marquis says

    June 26, 2022 at 8:25 am

    good info

    Reply
  16. karen humphries says

    June 26, 2022 at 8:44 am

    I love lady bugs! Not only are they beneficial, but they are so adorable!

    Reply
  17. Betty Flinchbaugh says

    June 26, 2022 at 9:03 am

    Thank you for your great advise!

    Reply
  18. Julie says

    June 26, 2022 at 10:00 am

    I do not like those nasty little aphids thank goodness for lady bugs..

    Reply
  19. Rena Walter says

    June 26, 2022 at 10:01 am

    Thank you for this interesting information. Lady Bugs are our favorite.

    Reply
  20. Janis C says

    June 26, 2022 at 10:01 am

    Ladybugs are my favorite. One landed on me yesterday.

    Reply
  21. Jill H says

    June 26, 2022 at 10:07 am

    I like lady bugs and the dragon flies I have been seeing

    Reply
  22. Kim Avery says

    June 26, 2022 at 11:08 am

    The only bug that bugs me are mosquitos! The rest i can coexist with!

    Reply
  23. Amber Lee Kolb says

    June 26, 2022 at 1:03 pm

    I’ve always loved lady bugs and I’ve been told in the past they are good luck. I had no idea about the other insects in the garden, I thought they were all pests! Thank you for the awesome information!

    Reply
  24. Anita Hamilton says

    June 26, 2022 at 1:09 pm

    We do the beer in a saucer to get rid of some slugs.

    Reply
  25. Crystal Abel says

    June 26, 2022 at 1:25 pm

    I love ladybugs, orb weaver spiders, dragonflies, and butterflies!

    Reply
  26. Sandy says

    June 26, 2022 at 1:40 pm

    It is good to know what are the good bugs and what are the bad bugs. I appreciate all of the useful information.

    Reply
  27. Tammy Michelli says

    June 26, 2022 at 2:41 pm

    Thank you for all the information.

    Reply
  28. Kathy Fronk says

    June 26, 2022 at 3:44 pm

    I love lady bugs. I have a hard time liking bugs in general. I now will have a different understanding of their part in the life cycle.

    Reply
  29. irene says

    June 26, 2022 at 6:12 pm

    Great advice about bags

    Reply
  30. Audrey says

    June 26, 2022 at 6:23 pm

    I love lady bugs

    Reply
  31. Elizabeth Krill says

    June 26, 2022 at 11:22 pm

    I haven’t seen lady bugs around in over 8 years.
    For a while there were the yellowish ones from China that ate holes in my apples.
    Right now, the fireflies are out. I don’t put pesticides or herbicides on my lawn and that is where the eggs & babies are under the ground waiting to come out.

    Reply
  32. Stephen Jones says

    June 27, 2022 at 12:03 am

    One that I really like a lot and find them very interesting, is the Praying Mantis!

    Reply
  33. Abraham Liandro says

    June 27, 2022 at 3:52 am

    interesting topic had no idea about this info on bugs lol

    Reply
  34. Pamela Chambers says

    June 27, 2022 at 5:03 am

    I’m happy to accomodate good bugs but some are just harder to deal with than others.

    Reply
  35. Karen Webster Hunt says

    June 27, 2022 at 6:33 am

    I don’t like any bugs except ladybugs. lol

    Reply
  36. Shannon Shark says

    June 27, 2022 at 6:58 am

    My favorite bug is the praying mantis…the carnivore of the insect world. They eat a variety of insects which can be both good and bad for a garden, being that they eat both bothersome insects and the beneficial ones. Overall, they’re good at eating the insects that irritate us such as flies and mosquitos.

    Reply
  37. Teena Sierson says

    June 27, 2022 at 7:09 am

    We have slugs all over outside and lady bugs for ever that comes in the house in the spring

    Reply
  38. Bri says

    June 27, 2022 at 8:08 am

    As long as the bugs are not harmful, I try to leave them alone to do their own thing.

    Reply
  39. Lawrence Weisberg says

    June 27, 2022 at 10:20 am

    Wonderful, well-organized, and presented information. Thank you.

    Reply
  40. sheila ressel says

    June 27, 2022 at 11:04 am

    Love ladybugs – hate aphids!

    Reply
  41. Elisse says

    June 27, 2022 at 12:05 pm

    Japanese beetles totally destroyed our vegetable garden a number of years ago, and I put down nematodes that fall and it seemed to work- we also had a very late frost the following spring, which may have helped, too. I have seen them occasionally since, but never like before… I also recently read that planting geraniums can help, as “Japanese beetles are particularly attracted to geraniums & eat the blossoms, promptly get dizzy from the natural chemicals in the geranium, fall off the plant, and permit you to dispose of them conveniently…”! So planting geraniums close to more valuable plants which you wish to save from the ravages of Japanese beetles may help!

    Reply
  42. Amanda Shietinese Hamilton says

    June 27, 2022 at 12:08 pm

    I love all of God’s Creatures as long as they are not harmful or contagious. I try to leave them alone to do their own thing, also I do enjoy a Ladybug flying on me for good luck, the red one for sure.

    Reply
  43. Jennylyn Gross says

    June 27, 2022 at 1:26 pm

    I love lady bugs!

    Reply
  44. kelly light says

    June 27, 2022 at 3:21 pm

    Always need info to keep my garden green.

    Reply
  45. Tony Platz says

    June 27, 2022 at 3:52 pm

    Thanks for the info never knew bugs that were garden friendly except bees and butterfkies .

    Reply
  46. candy says

    June 27, 2022 at 8:31 pm

    Some Bug sure loves my cabbage this year!!

    Reply
  47. JeanD says

    June 27, 2022 at 8:59 pm

    Other than ladybugs, I really don’t want a bunch of creepy crawlers in my garden. They give me the creeps. I look for all non-toxic ways to get rid of them, but sometimes I do consider using a ‘spray’.

    Reply
  48. joyce wilson says

    June 27, 2022 at 11:28 pm

    I love a lot of different bugs!

    Reply
  49. Rosanne says

    June 28, 2022 at 12:07 am

    Love lady bugs but I don’t care what good spiders do I still hate them

    Reply

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about laura sproull

about laura sproull

Hi! I'm Laura and hail from Western New York. I consider myself a lifelong learner who loves gardening with a 360 degree view. Thanks for stopping by!

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