The Bugs you WANT in your garden...

Hey Everyone!

The more I browse these threads, it seems like not too many users know about all the beneficial insects to introduce to your garden, in order to kill bad bugs like thrips, catapillars, aphids etc... Here are a few examples of the bugs you're going to want to find, and have them buddy up to your plants lol...

Green Lacewings

Photo: Jack Dykinga. USDA Agricultural Research Service
Most of the beautiful adult lacewings feed on pollen, nectar, and honeydew. Green lacewing larvae, however, are voracious predators. Nicknamed "aphid lions," the larvae do an impressive job of devouring aphids by the dozens. Larvae hunt for soft-bodied prey, using their curved, pointed mandibles to stab their victims.

Lady Beetles

Photo: © Debbie Hadley, WILD Jersey
Everyone loves a ladybug, but gardeners hold them in especially high regard. Lady beetles eat aphids, scale insects, thrips, mealybugs, and mites – all the pests gardeners despise. With lady beetles, you get more bang for your buck, because both the adults and the larvae feed on pests. Lady beetle larvae look like tiny, colorful alligators. Learn to recognize them, so you don't mistake them for pests.

Assassin Bugs

Photo: Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org
Assassin bugs know how to take care of business. These true bugs use trickery, disguises, or just plain brute force to capture a meal. Many assassin bugs specialize in certain kinds of prey, but as a group, assassins feed on everything from beetles to caterpillars. They're fun to watch, but be careful handling them because they bite – hard.

Minute Pirate Bugs

Photo: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Arrgggh. You probably have minute pirate bugs in your garden, and don't even know it. Minute, indeed – these predators are tiny! Minute pirate bugs usually measure a mere 1/16th inch long, but even at that size, they can put away a good number of aphids, mites, and thrips. Next time you're in the garden, take a hand lens and search for them. Adults have black bodies with a white chevron pattern on their backs.

Ground Beetles

Photo: Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org
You've probably overlooked the ground beetles in your garden. Lift a stepping stone, and you might see one skittering away. The dark-colored adults often have a metallic sheen, but it's really the larvae that do the dirty work of pest control. Ground beetle larvae develop in the soil, and prey on slugs, root maggots, cutworms, and other pests on the ground. A few species will venture up a plant stem and hunt for caterpillars or insect eggs.

Syrphid Flies

Photo: Flickr user Gilles Gonthier
Syrphid flies often wear bright markings of yellow-orange and black, and can be mistaken for bees. Like all flies, though, the syrphids have just two wings, so take a closer look if you see a new "bee" in your garden. Syrphid maggots crawl on garden foliage, searching for aphids to eat. They're quite good at squeezing in the curled up leaves where aphids hide, too. As an added bonus, the adults will pollinate your flowers. Syrphid flies are also called hover flies, because they tend to hover over flowers.

Predatory Stink Bugs

Photo: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Though many stink bugs are plant pests themselves, some predatory stink bugs keep pests in check. The spined soldier bug, for example, feeds on caterpillars, sawfly larvae, and grubs. Most predatory stink bugs are generalist feeders, so they might also devour your lady beetles or even their own kin. You can recognize stink bugs by their shield-shaped bodies, and the pungent odor they produce when disturbed.
Big-Eyed Bugs

Photo: Jack Dykinga. USDA Agricultural Research Service
Predictably, you can distinguish big-eyed bugs from their closest relatives by looking at their large, bulging eyes. Like many other true bugs, their bodies are oval and somewhat flat. Big-eyed bugs are quite small, reaching an average of just 1/8th inches in length. Despite their diminutive stature, both adults and nymphs feed heartily on mites, aphids, and insect eggs.


Damsel Bugs

Photo: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Damsel bugs use thickened front legs to grab their prey, which includes aphids, caterpillars, thrips, leafhoppers, and other soft-bodied insects. Nymphs, too, are predators, and will feast both small insects and their eggs. With their dull brown coloring, damsel bugs blend in to their environment quite well. They look similar to assassin bugs, but are smaller.



.... So to all of you with bug troubles-- I wish you the best. With the information listed above, it may be easier to identify the insects you want on your plants--

Also for all those with an organic green thumb, hopefully you introduce beneficial insects before turning to chemical aides

Take it easy everyone-- and good luck with your grow(s)

a buddy of mine who has grown for a couple of years told me ladybugs can be all you need. not ugly looking, easy to handle, no biting, and carnivores.... my plants have some insects, they are having a party with some leaves, and I don't really want to use pesticides... should I bring some in my apt?