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The Good Bugs: Pollinate and Pest Control

When we think of pests, one of the first things that come to our minds is bugs. This is understandable as some of the worst pests are bugs such as mosquitoes and wasps. While there are bad bugs, there are also good bugs who are shining examples of helping the environment. These good bugs can provide many benefits to us and our plants as some of them are a pest control alternative, and others help pollination in plants. 

What Bugs are Beneficial to Your Garden or Land?

Have you ever had the unfortunate experience of growing some fruits and vegetables in your own personal garden only to learn later that have been eaten by a couple of grubs? This is one of the worst feelings to experience especially if you have been waiting so patiently for these fruits and vegetables to grow.

While the aforementioned example is indeed a tragic one, that doesn’t mean there is no hope for you and your garden. There are bugs who do the opposite of destroying your garden. Instead, they can help pollinate your plants and even eat other pests. The question is to find out what those good bugs are. Here are some good bugs that are beneficial to your garden or land. 

Lady Bugs 

Ladybugs are beneficial to any garden or land that needs help in reducing the local pest insect population. The way they help address that problem is that they eat pests that feed on local plants and crops, such as aphids and mites. These pests can wreak havoc on your garden or your land if they are allowed to feed without a worry. Ladybugs can be a potential solution to your insect pest problem. 

Damsel Bugs 

Damsel bugs are another insect that can help you get rid of pests that are roaming your garden or land. They prey on aphids, grasshoppers, and caterpillars which are all plant damaging pests. Another benefit of the damsel bug is that it won’t damage any of the plants that they come across. This can give you peace of mind that they will rid the garden of pests without causing any further damage to your plants. 

Praying Mantis

Praying mantises have garnered quite the reputation as a fearsome insect predator and it is well earned. They prey on a number of different pests. Some of these pests include aphids, roaches, and even small rodents. As a result of their diet, they are able to help gardeners and farmers get rid of pests that are damaging their crops and plants. 

Honey Bees

Honey bees are a widely known beneficial insect mainly due to their ability to help in pollination. As they go from plant to plant, they carry pollen and pass it to each plant that they visit. This allows for the plants and crops to continue reproducing in the future which leads to nourishment for us as well. Another benefit of honey bees is, of course, the honey that they produce. Honey is a popular food that is consumed by many people every day and honeybees seem to produce them almost endlessly. 

Butterflies

Butterflies are beneficial in different ways compared to other bugs. For example, just like other insects, butterflies prey on other insects that may be seen as pests by gardeners and farmers. They also are important for the pollination of plants as they carry the pollen to different plants and flowers to help them produce more seeds. A healthy number of butterflies in your garden or land can also be a great sign of wild diversity. Butterflies are an important part of the food chain as birds and other insects prey on them and their caterpillars.

Importance of Beneficial Insects

Beneficial insects are important to us because they are able to help keep ecosystems balanced. In this case, our gardens and land wouldn’t wield much successful plants and crops if it weren’t due to the efforts of beneficial insects.

Beneficial insects help us in many different ways. They help pollinate plants and flowers to ensure that they keep reproducing. They also help clear out pests that may be feeding on valuable crops and plants. For example, ladybugs can help clear out any aphids that may be feeding on your plants. 

Another benefit of beneficial insects is that some of them are able to produce food that we consume. The most obvious example of this is the honey that honey bees create. Honey is a popular ingredient used in many dishes today! Without honeybees around, we may not have honey, and many of our plants might not be pollinated. 

How to Keep Beneficial Bugs Around

Beneficial bugs provide many benefits to your land or garden. So, how do you keep them around to defend against pests and pollinate your plants?

One thing you should refrain from using if you are planning to keep beneficial bugs around is pesticides. While they do work in getting rid of pests, they also harm and kill the beneficial bugs in the same area. If you want to make sure you have a healthy number of beneficial bugs, avoid using pesticides.

Another way to keep beneficial bugs around is by providing them with a source of water. Insects, like us, require water to survive. Providing them with a consistent source of water will ensure that they stay around for the long-term. 

Try and make sure you have a decent variety of plants in your garden and land. Having a variety of different plants is important as beneficial bugs are different from each other. There may be some who may stick low to the ground to hunt their prey. Some of them might soar to the tops of plants to hunt their prey. Providing them with different plants that they can hunt in and hide out can help keep them protected and give them a steady source of prey to consume. 

Beneficial bugs are good bugs that help pollinate our plants and can be a safe and effective source of pest control. All bugs may seem, at first glance, as just pests. There are some of them though that provide many benefits to us and our plants. Introducing these beneficial bugs into your garden or land may lead to the beginning of a beneficial relationship. 

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