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Raise Your Garden

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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? 

98 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
    • MDennis says

      June 28, 2022 at 5:09 am

      Thank you for all of the gardening inspiration. I have always had a brown thumb, but a desire to try.

      Reply
  3. Felicia says

    June 25, 2022 at 8:50 pm

    Thank you for this awesome info!

    Reply
  4. 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
  5. Rosanne Clark says

    June 25, 2022 at 9:25 pm

    I like ladybugs

    Reply
  6. sara crisco says

    June 25, 2022 at 10:19 pm

    Thanks for all the great info!

    Reply
  7. Kathryn Finn says

    June 25, 2022 at 11:15 pm

    Rely polys are my favorite.

    Reply
  8. Monica M says

    June 25, 2022 at 11:57 pm

    Great info even though I hate bugs 🙂

    Reply
  9. Sam says

    June 26, 2022 at 12:14 am

    Good to know the friendlies from the pests

    Reply
  10. Barrie says

    June 26, 2022 at 12:32 am

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

    Reply
  11. jenna brown says

    June 26, 2022 at 12:57 am

    thanks for the helpful info! i like ladybugs alot, also fireflies.

    Reply
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. Liz Kilcher says

    June 26, 2022 at 3:51 am

    i love ladybugs

    Reply
  15. 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
  16. Diane Warstler says

    June 26, 2022 at 5:30 am

    Very interesting information. I still like ladybugs the best!

    Reply
  17. Joanna says

    June 26, 2022 at 7:45 am

    Thank you for a great informative article

    Reply
  18. 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
  19. Bradley Marquis says

    June 26, 2022 at 8:25 am

    good info

    Reply
  20. 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
  21. walter says

    June 26, 2022 at 8:47 am

    good bugs help with your garden in a good way

    Reply
  22. Betty Flinchbaugh says

    June 26, 2022 at 9:03 am

    Thank you for your great advise!

    Reply
  23. Julie says

    June 26, 2022 at 10:00 am

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

    Reply
  24. Rena Walter says

    June 26, 2022 at 10:01 am

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

    Reply
  25. Janis C says

    June 26, 2022 at 10:01 am

    Ladybugs are my favorite. One landed on me yesterday.

    Reply
  26. Jill H says

    June 26, 2022 at 10:07 am

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

    Reply
  27. 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
  28. Justan Jenkins says

    June 26, 2022 at 11:39 am

    cute pictures

    Reply
  29. 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
  30. Anita Hamilton says

    June 26, 2022 at 1:09 pm

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

    Reply
  31. Crystal Abel says

    June 26, 2022 at 1:25 pm

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

    Reply