DOWNLOAD THE THEME SONG!

So what's the buzz about beneficial insects? Just about everyone knows that ladybugs and praying mantis are welcome visitors in the garden but why do we consider some insects beneficial and why are they even here?

Beneficial insects by definition are not pests but don't tell that to anyone who has a house full of ladybugs looking for a place to spend the winter. In spite of the occasional nuisance factor, beneficial insects (including the arachnids spiders and mites and nematodes) help us in the garden either by pollinating flowers, processing soil and organic matter or by eating the pests that inhabit our world.

As for pollination, bees take the crown. Without bees, all plants that depend on bees for pollination would disappear and that apple tree in the back yard sure ain't gonna give any fruit. Though bees are the most abundant pollinators, they aren't alone. Beneficial pollinators also include different types and sizes of wasps and flies.

Some soil dwelling insects process organic matter or burrow into the earth enhancing soil nutrition and structure. Centipedes, millipedes, pill bugs and ants are just some of the beneficials that improve the soil.

As for those beneficial insects that prefer to dine on bad bugs, there are different ways for them to enjoy the banquet. The predators hunt their prey in the air, on feet or slither through the soil. The parasite has a more insidious approach. Mama simply lays her eggs in a pest (usually in the larval stages of grubs, worms or caterpillars) for the developing babies to consume. The balance of predator/parasitic and prey insects has developed over eons of time and if we allow and assist her, nature will usually keep pest insect populations in check and only occasionally will problems arise.

So how do we assist Mother Nature with pollinating our plants, keeping soils fertile and in maintaining a balance between good and bad bugs? Give beneficial insects reasons not only to visit your yard but also to take up housekeeping.

A diverse plant selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, herbs, grasses and annuals creates an interesting landscape that also interests beneficials. A bee won't reliably visit a yard just to get a little pollen and nectar from the occasional fruit tree. Instead, provide a continuous smorgasbord of blooming plants from early spring to late fall. Not only will pollinating insects enjoy the nectar but many predators and parasitic insects also depend on nectar to supplement their diet of bugs. For instance, parasitic wasps lay their eggs in caterpillars (those odd looking white cases on the back of tomato hornworms) but adults feeds solely on flowers. As a bonus many flowering plants produce fruits or seeds that attract birds that come in and eat a few bugs as an appetizer.

Different plant heights, groupings and sun conditions attract a wide range of insect predators. Trees, shrubs and large perennials offer shade in the hot summer and attract beneficials like grub devouring Ground Beetles. Provide hiding places for those shade lovers under leaf litter, mulch, rocks or rotting logs. Tall, sun-loving perennials like Coneflower provide the perfect perches for dragonflies to perform their aerial acrobatics as they snatch mosquitoes and gnats out of thin air. A mixed border of wildflowers, perennials, annuals and herbs will be the perfect insectaries for a host of predators and parasites to live and breed.

A variety of flower types are also important because different flower classes attract different insects. Bumblebees love just about any type of flower but the numerous, delicate flowers of many herbs are more attractive to tiny parasitic wasps while some prefer to land on the rays of disc flowers and walk to lunch. Again, diversity is key.

A strong beneficial insect population is the result of a mixed habitat that not only provides sustenance but also attends to all year-round needs. Water is a vital requirement for all creatures and a birdbath with a few stones positioned as ramps for flying insects will serve nicely as will a garden fountain. Change the water every few days to keep mosquitoes from breeding. For the more ambitious gardener, a small garden pond will provide the hatchery for creatures like dragonflies that spend the first life stages underwater. As a bonus, bug-eating toads, frogs and goldfish also like to call a garden pond home.

Once beneficials have lived and bred in your garden you don't want them to leave with the onset of cold weather so be sure to provide winter shelter. A tuft of ornamental grasses offer an insulated haven through the long, cold winter as will stone piles or walls, leaf litter and wood or brush piles. There's nothing like a protected nook to curl up with a few friends and spend a long, quiet winter.

Take into account that insecticides kill not only pest insects but also beneficials. Any insecticide should be used with extreme care and the consequences should be weighed carefully before application. Even biological controls like Diatomaceous Earth or Insecticidal Soap can have a detrimental effect. Generally with pest and beneficial populations, the pest population will bloom first followed shortly by a rise in the predator/parasite population because as the beneficials food source (pests) increases the beneficial population will also rise. If possible, have a little patience and interfere as little as possible. If insecticides are necessary, use the least harmful product to achieve effective results.

To decrease the need for insecticides, select plants that match the site's soil and sun conditions. Plants placed in the conditions for which they adapted, are healthier and less prone to insect or disease invasions. Handpicking works well with large bugs like Japanese beetles. Simply knock them off into a can of soapy water or plain water if feeding them to the fish in the pond. A fine, strong spray of water is great to knock insect eggs off plants and small bugs like white fly or aphids are easily injured or find it difficult to return. Pest mites thrive in dry conditions so hose down mite prone plants like Dwarf Alberta Spruce weekly if there has been no heavy rains. The pest mites are slow moving while the predatory mites are faster and can consume many of the pests that try to return. Wasps and hornets are aggressive predators and if their nests are in out of the way places, leave them alone. White-Faced Hornets for example, will happily destroy irritating deer flies. Exclusion fabrics or row covers like "Remay" help to control pests by keeping pests from ever getting to the plants. Use with plants like cabbage or spinach that do not require pollination or use before flowers form on squash and pumpkins to keep the squash vine borer moth from laying her eggs. Fabric must be pulled back for pollination to occur on fruiting plants. Scouting for and destroying egg deposits is also useful, get to the problem before it hatches. If the beneficial population is low or if one particular insect pest is out of control, beneficial insects can be purchased and released. Through catalogs or online, ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps, nematodes and many others are easily available and can target specific pests. Identify the problem, order the appropriate beneficial, and when they arrive, release according to the directions.

A healthy backyard is about diversity, balance and wise choices. Plant a wide variety of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants and the insect population will become more balanced and less prone to pest invasion. Choose plants wisely, limit the use of pesticides and help nature to take care of herself.

And that's the buzzzzzzzzz

Printable Version