Benefits For The Garden Of The Little Critters
When it comes to caring for and maintaining our garden or small orchard, sometimes we do not take into account a series of factors that can play in our favor. Among these are the small bugs that can be very beneficial, either for their pollinating role or as protectors against pests. If you want to know what kind of insects are your allies, be sure to read this article.
What role do the beneficial little critters play?
First of all, and as you may have imagined, it must be said that not all insects are harmful. And it is that in nature all the little bugs play a biological role. Therefore, it is important to identify which species of insects benefit the development of our particular green zone.
Among the outstanding functions, the small bugs help pollination and act as a barrier against predators or pests. In the case that our garden includes fruit trees or edible plants, they can even encourage growth and production to some extent.
Therefore, it is important to know the beneficial role of these small critters, and encourage them to inhabit our garden as much as possible. One trick is to have aromatic plants and showy flowers, which attract the attention of insects and invite them to come closer.
If you want to know the allies that your garden has, here are some details about the best known.
Bees: very beneficial little critters
We are, almost certainly, before the most important pollinating insects on our planet. Unfortunately, they are disappearing at a worrying rate. Without a doubt, the bee –in the image that heads this article– is the main ally that we should have in our garden.
Butterflies
Apart from its beauty, the butterfly s are excellent pollinators. By having jasmine and marigolds in our garden –among others– we will be able to attract these little critters.
Some species of butterflies can even use the plants in your garden to lay their eggs. Butterfly larvae are a good food source for other beneficial insects that may be in your garden.
Ladybugs
These friendly insects are most recognizable. They belong to the order Coleoptera , like the beetles. Their body is rounded and they present a pattern of bright colors –red, orange, yellow– with a black mottling that always appears.
They hardly have any predators, and they play one of the most important roles in controlling various pests. Much of this merit goes to their great appetite, since they are capable of devouring up to hundreds of copies of:
- Mites.
- Aphids
- Mealybugs.
- White fly.
Throughout history they have been used as the main method of pest control, so having them in our garden is undoubtedly highly recommended.
Wasps
At first glance, they are certainly not very pleasant guests. But, although their bite is annoying and sometimes dangerous, they can be of great help in our garden. Some species can play a key role in pest control, as they feed on the larvae of some insects such as caterpillars and aphids.
Lacewings
Chrysopids belong to the order Neuroptera and normally inhabit agricultural areas or areas with an abundance of vegetation. Their appearance is striking: they have a green body, with transparent wings and golden or yellow eyes.
Although they may not sound familiar to you, the reality is that they are highly effective against the dreaded whitefly, especially Chrysoperla carnea , commonly known as lacewing. They are also capable of fighting caterpillars, mealybugs and other harmful insects.
Apart from these, there are countless little bugs that can be of great help. Therefore, if you want your garden to look full of life, it is important to know and learn about these types of insects.
