The Good, the Bad and the Buggy
Bugs! Most of us got over liking them somewhere around the age of 12 after the ant farm 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. But as many of you already know, some of those pesky bugs can actually be good for the garden. Not all beetles are bad with ground beetles doing their part to help develop fertile soil. Honeybees are important in the pollination process in our gardens and many of their more fearsome cousins love to eat caterpillars and other insects that devour the leaves of our favorite trees and shrubs. 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 at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, and in your garden at home:
· Ladybug - Both the larvae and the adult insects feed on aphids, the bane of the rose 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 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 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, but it will also eat beneficial insects.
· Ground Beetles - These largish beetles like to root around under leaf litter or mulch dining on insect eggs and larvae.
As for inviting all these wonderful bugs into your garden, the easiest way is to plant flowers and herbs that they like. Many beneficial insects are fond of herbs 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. Winter cover crops like buckwheat or clover are also favorites.
In addition, your beneficial bugs will require water and protection. Use overhead watering to leave little puddles, or put out a shallow dish of water that offers hydration without drowning the insects. As for protection, ground beetles like mulch or leaf litter, while leafy plants offer flying insects good hiding places from birds or other predators. And the really good news is that beneficial insects will actually appreciate it if you miss a weed or two.
About the Author
Bruce Ballard, Biltmore Estate Landscape Supervisor, has worked in the gardens of Biltmore Estate, George Washington Vanderbilt's turn-of-the-century home, for more than fifteen years. Encompassing both formal and informal designs, the 75 acres of gardens and grounds are at the heart of the nearly 8,000-acre estate. Ballard oversees the day-to-day operations of three garden crews, responsible for approximately 100 acres of manicured gardens and roadsides.
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