A Guide to Good Pests in the Garden
While many gardeners focus on getting rid of pests, some insects and other creatures actually help your garden thrive. These beneficial pests serve important roles, such as pollinating plants, preying on harmful bugs, and improving soil health. Encouraging these helpful organisms can reduce the need for pesticides and create a more balanced ecosystem in your garden.
1. Predatory Insects: Nature’s Pest Control
Some insects help by feeding on harmful pests that damage your plants. Here are a few beneficial predators:
Ladybugs (Ladybird Beetles)
What they eat: Aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs, and scale insects
How to attract them: Grow dill, fennel, marigolds, and yarrow
Lacewings
What they eat: Aphids, caterpillars, thrips, mealybugs, and whiteflies
How to attract them: Plant cosmos, dill, coriander, and sunflowers
Praying Mantises
What they eat: A variety of insects, including grasshoppers, beetles, and flies
How to attract them: Plant shrubs and tall grasses for shelter
Ground Beetles
What they eat: Slugs, cutworms, caterpillars, and root maggots
How to attract them: Keep leaf litter and mulch for shelter
2. Parasitic Insects: Natural Pest Control Agents
Parasitic insects lay their eggs on or inside harmful pests, helping to control their populations naturally.
Braconid Wasps
What they target: Tomato hornworms, caterpillars, aphids
How to attract them: Grow nectar-rich flowers like dill, parsley, and sweet alyssum
Tachinid Flies
What they target: Caterpillars, squash bugs, Japanese beetles
How to attract them: Plant yarrow, parsley, and mint
3. Pollinators: Essential for Fruit and Vegetable Production
Pollinators help plants reproduce by transferring pollen between flowers.
Bees (Honeybees, Bumblebees, and Native Bees)
Why they’re good: Improve fruit and vegetable yields
How to attract them: Grow wildflowers, lavender, sunflowers, and fruit trees
Butterflies and Moths
Why they’re good: Pollinate flowers, contributing to seed production
How to attract them: Plant nectar-rich flowers such as milkweed, coneflowers, and verbena
Hoverflies (Syrphid Flies)
Why they’re good: Pollinate flowers and eat aphids
How to attract them: Grow alyssum, marigolds, and chamomile
4. Soil Health Champions: The Underground Helpers
Certain creatures work to improve soil structure and fertility.
Earthworms
Why they’re good: Aerate the soil, break down organic matter, and improve drainage
How to attract them: Add compost and mulch, avoid chemical pesticides
Springtails
Why they’re good: Help decompose organic material, enriching soil nutrients
How to attract them: Maintain a moist environment with compost and mulch
Encouraging Beneficial Pests in Your Garden
To support good pests in your garden, follow these tips:
Plant a diverse range of flowers and herbs to provide food and shelter.
Limit pesticide use to avoid harming beneficial insects.
Provide water sources, like shallow dishes with pebbles for pollinators to drink from.
Use mulch and compost to create a healthy habitat for soil dwellers.
By fostering a garden-friendly environment, you can maintain a natural balance that keeps harmful pests in check while supporting a thriving ecosystem.
