The Good, the Bad and the Buggy

Article by: Bruce Ballard

Bugs! Most of us got over liking them somewhere around the age of 12 after the ant farm , Urban ing Even in Quakertown Pa went belly up and we began to appreciate how annoying mosquitoes, wasps and chiggers could be. Then as adults, we learned to despise roaches, gnats and the beetles that feast upon our gardens. , The Importance of Decor But as many of you already know, some of those pesky bugs can actually be good for the garden. , Add Color To Your With Blue Perennial Flowers Not all beetles are bad with ground beetles doing their part to help develop fertile soil. , The Many Advantages in Owning Silk Flowers Honeybees are important in the pollination process in our gardens , How to Grow Red Oak Trees Near Philadelphia Pa and many of their more fearsome cousins love to eat caterpillars and other insects that devour the leaves of our favorite trees , Spring is around the corner - How is your Garden? and shrubs. , A Guide to Commercial Awnings Of course, we all love ladybugs dining out on aphids, we just have to get over their tendency to congregate in our windowsills.

In the meantime, here's a brief primer on good bugs and what they do to help us out in the gardens , Working with dahlias at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, and in your garden , The Importance of Decor at home: · Ladybug - Both the larvae and the adult insects feed on aphids, the bane of the rose , Easy Care Tips gardener. · Lacewing - These diaphanous little guys look delicate, but will devour aphids, caterpillars, mealy bugs, leafhoppers, insect eggs and whiteflies. · Dragonfly and Damselfly - Naiads (immature state) feed on mosquito larvae while the adults will rid you of both mosquitoes and moths. · Hover Fly - The larvae get their start in the world by devouring dozens of aphids in a single day. · Bumblebee & Honeybee - These bees are important for pollination, especially in fruit trees , Installing Drywall: Mudding And Taping and, of course, you may be contributing to someone's supply of honey. · Braconid Wasp - While it may seem contrary to wish for a wasp, these guys are parasites for European corn , Practical Feng Shui – Debunking the myths and finding out wh borers, leaf mining sawflies and bark beetles. The lesser evil? · Ambush Bug - If you can't quite warm up to wasps, Ambush Bugs will rid you of them along with bees and flies. · Damsel Bug - Another help for the aphid problem as well as caterpillars. · Praying Mantis - This one is a bit of a toss-up. The mantis will eat a variety of insect pests, , Advice on Buying and Using a Meat Smoker but it will also eat beneficial insects. · Ground Beetles - These largish beetles like to root , Your Building Your Dream Home, But Where Do You Start? around under leaf litter or mulch dining on insect eggs and larvae.

As for inviting all these wonderful bugs into your garden, , From The Science Desk the easiest way is to plant flowers , Looking for the latest advice in relation to black lights. and herbs , Some Practical Ideas For Designing You Own Landscape that they like. Many beneficial insects are fond of herbs , Some Practical Ideas For Designing You Own Landscape including fennel, dill, cilantro and caraway. You might also try yarrow, coreopsis, geraniums and wild carrot as attractors. Members of the sunflower family including asters, cosmos, purple coneflower and zinnias are insect friendly, not to mention colorful additions to your landscape. , The Making of a Slipcover: A Lost Art Winter , Installing Drywall: Mudding And Taping cover crops like buckwheat or clover are also favorites.

In addition, your beneficial bugs will require water , Advice on Buying and Using a Meat Smoker and protection. Use overhead watering to leave little puddles, or put out a shallow dish of water , Planting White Pine Seedlings that offers hydration without drowning the insects. As for protection, ground beetles like mulch or leaf litter, while leafy plants , Natural Science - Not Rocket Science offer flying insects good hiding places , Urban Farming Even in Quakertown Pa from birds , The way of the future is turn to solar or other predators. And the really good news is that beneficial insects will actually appreciate it if you miss a weed , 10 Tips for Hiring a Heating and Cooling Contractor or two.
About the Author

Bruce Ballard, Biltmore Estate Landscape , Are You Over Watering Your Garden? Supervisor, has worked in the gardens , Black Haw Viburnums will grow in Feasterville Pa. of Biltmore Estate, George Washington Vanderbilt's turn-of-the-century home, , Portable Air Conditioners Ensure Economy And Convenience for more than fifteen years. Encompassing both formal and informal designs, , The American Dream Home the 75 acres of gardens , A Guide to Commercial Awnings and grounds are at the heart of the nearly 8,000-acre estate. Ballard oversees the day-to-day operations of three garden , Country Lawn Maintenance - 10 Tips to Know Before You Mow crews, responsible for approximately 100 acres of manicured gardens , Pictures Of Landscaping - Using Other Peoples Ideas To Design Your Landscape. and roadsides.

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