Friendly insects which used as natural Pest controllers?

We meet lots of bugs in our backyard and the only thought we have by looking at them is, we should get rid of them as soon as possible. But not all the bugs that are present in our garden are dangerous for our plants. There are some bugs present in our garden that are good for our garden.

These bugs consume the pest or insects, which are bad for your garden plants' health. These bugs are known as “Friendly Insects” or “Beneficial Insects” (The bugs that eat other bugs). Beneficial pests devour a wide range of garden pests including leafhoppers, caterpillars, and bean beetles.

What are friendly insects?

Friendly or beneficial insects are those which are good for being in our garden instead of harming the plants. Beneficial insects mainly fall into three categories.

Pollinators

Pollinators insects include bees, butterflies, flies, moths, etc. These insects are considered great to pollinate our garden flowers.

Predators

Predators are the insects that terminate pests that are harmful to our backyard or garden. These types of insects include ladybugs and praying mantises to name a few.

Parasitizes

Parasitizes are somewhat similar to predators as they also prey on other harmful insects. But these pests devour other pests differently. These pests lay eggs on the other bad insects, and when the eggs hatch, the emerged larvae feed on the host insect.

The parasitic wasp is the main insect of parasitizes insects category.

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Some of the beneficial insects present in the backyard

Ladybugs

Ladybugs also called lady beetles or ladybird beetles are ferocious predators. These insects are the natural enemy of many insects like aphids. Ladybugs are known as an inexpensive solution for garden pests and completely harmless for humans and pets.

Ladybugs are bought by many people to reduce their garden pests.

Green lacewings

Green lacewings are a common beneficial insect that especially feeds on aphids but also prey on other soft-bodied insects. The most common insect that green lacewings prey on are caterpillars, leafhoppers, mealybugs, and whiteflies.

Spiders

Spiders are often mistaken as harmful insects technically arachnids. But they are great beneficial insects as they are fascinated by their prey and devour many live insects. They feed on house insects as well. Jumping spiders are especially great at catching many insects and eating them.

Beetles

Ground beetles and soldier beetles are the groups of predatory beetles that are count as beneficial insects. These beetles devour on many insects including caterpillars, thrives, weevils, slugs, silverfish, and aphids. Despite these beneficial beetles Japanese beetles should be controlled in the garden.

Soldier beetles attracted to the plants with compound blossoms.

Praying Mantises  

Praying mantises are fierce predators that hunt other insects that can harm our garden plants such as moths, and flies. But the problem is praying mantis also tend to feed on other beneficial insects butterflies, and bees to name a few. And sometimes they even hunt each other.

Hoverflies

Hoverflies are another beneficial insect in your garden. These pollinators feed on pollen and nectar and are very favorable to have in gardens. Hoverflies larvae also act as predators and terminate aphids, caterpillars, and thrive.

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