Getting ready for spring I am in management mode. I lost quite a few trees to pine beetles last year and three Junipers that I was unable to diagnose correctly.  So in my research for Spring pest management I found myself reminded that not all bugs are bad for the landscape. I pulled out my list of good bugs to remind me who not to eliminate as culprits. In fact, here a list of a few of the “good bugs” that I do not want to get rid of.

Praying Mantis: They have a voracious appetite and are best known for chowing down on mosquitoes, nocturnal moths, bees, beetles, small lizards and even small frogs. I am very happy if they want to munch on my mosquitoes, moths and lizards. I have been overridden with all three.

Praying Mantis

Ground Beetle: Not to be confused with the nasty Japanese beetle that took down my pines. As nocturnal eaters they munch on slugs, snails, cutworms, and root maggots. I have no problem letting these little guys help me out.

Ground Beetle

Green Lacewing: What a gentle looking fellow with such a big job! Known to control aphids, thrips, red mites, small caterpillars and mealybugs that like to munch away on foliage in the landscape! And as with any meal they like to finish off with a drink. They have a nice drink of nectar collected from flowers like Angelica and Sweet Alyssum.

Green Lacewing

Spined Soldier Bug: Ah, that infamous stink bug known for the foul odor it emits when disturbed. But alas, this little guy too, is a friend of the neighborhood garden. It will destroy for you Mexican bean beetles, Colorado potato beetles, hornworms, cabbage loopers and cabbage worms. Easily one of the vegetable gardener’s favorite workers.

Spidered Soldier Bug

Ladybug: I have always loved Ladybugs ever since my childhood. But it wasn’t until I got older that I realized what a friend to the garden they are. They control aphids, mites, and mealybugs. Known as aphid wolves because they feed on small orange-spotted black grubs. What would I do without them!

Ladybug

Braconid Wasp: Sounds like something right out of the dinosaur age but they too, are helpful to the home gardener. They have a stinger that is intimidating to humans. No worries, they are more interested in munching on caterpillars and sawfly larvae thangoing after people. And if you are growing tomatoes thank these guys for keeping horn worms at bay.

Braconid Wasp

Bumblebee: Who hasn’t seen the bumblebee lighting on a dandelion or an azalea blossom. They flit here and there in the flower heads pollinating away. They would rather be busy at their job than stinging humans. So if you get stung it is because they feel threatened in their territory not because they were are you. I love bumblebees because they are reminder that someone is helping me with pollination.

Bumblebee

Beneficial Nematodes: I must confess that I have heard of these little guys forever and yet never took the time to really learn their job. They live in our soil. And they go after those destructive grubs in the lawn as well as the fleas that want to torture your dog. But what I like most about them is that Japanese beetles are susceptible to being destroyed by beneficial nematodes. Lucky for me, they are turned off to the taste of earthworms and ladybug larvae.

Beneficial Nematodes

Tachinid Fly: Another insect that has a name that sounds like it came out of the dinosaur age. They get after caterpillars, gypsy moth larvae and cutworms.

Tachinid Fly

Earthworm: Last but certainly not least is the earthworm. When I see earthworms I know those little mini composters are fast at work. They create the kind of well aerated soil that I like to call black gold.

Earthworm

There are other landscape friends like butterflies, bats and some birds but for now I am going to be on the watch for these insects and encourage them all to come on into the yard and stay awhile.

Note: All pictures have been chosen from outside sources.

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