How to attract beneficial bugs

https://modernfarmer.com/2015/06/how-to-attract-beneficial-bugs/

"The bug eating bugs are the ones you want in your garden.



You can purchase and release beneficial insects in your garden, but why go through the trouble and expense when they will show up on their own? All you need is the right habitat. If you lack habitat, any insects that are introduced artificially are unlikely to stick around anyway.

You can attract beneficial insects primarily by planting flowers. Even though predation is the goal, most predatory insects also need nectar and pollen as a source of food. That’s because they are often predatory in just one stage of their life cycle (most insects go through four stages in their life cycle – egg, larvae, pupae and adult), but need these plant-based food sources in other stages. During their flower-feeding stage, they act as pollinators in your garden.

What to Plant

Here are some guidelines for choosing which species to plant in your garden insectary. Select species that bloom throughout the growing season so there is a continual food source for the beneficial bugs. The majority of garden plants bloom in spring and early summer, so go out of your way to include a few that bloom in late summer and fall. Also, focus on the flowers that are nectar-rich and easy for beneficial bugs to access. Most beneficial insects are tiny flying insects during their vegetarian stage and aren’t very interested in big flowers with lots of petals (like roses and camellias) because they can’t easily access the nectar. Instead, they prefer tiny flowers with short petals.

There are scores of species that make effective insectary plantings. Aromatic herbs are among the best, and native wildflowers are always a good choice. In general, avoid the showiest ornamental varieties, often referred to as ‘improved hybrid cultivars’ – they are usually bred for larger, more colorful petals, but often have less nectar than wild species.

Spring-Flowering Beneficial Attracting Plants
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officianalis)
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum)
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Early/Mid Summer-Flowering Plants
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Mint (Mentha spp.)
Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota)
Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)

Late Summer/Fall-Flowering Plants
Bee Balm (Monarda didmya)
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Aster (Aster chilensis)

Cultivating an Insectary

Once you’ve selected species to plant, think carefully about how your plants are interspersed in the landscape. The goal is to create beneficial insect habitat as close as possible to the crops that need protection. For small vegetable plots, it’s possible to plant an insectary as a border around the entire garden. In larger, market-scale gardens and commercial farms, plant an insectary row every 100 feet among the crops. For orchards, sew a seed mixture of insectary plants underneath the trees.

Let Nature Happen

The best insectary species are generally tough and adaptable plants that require minimal care. It’s a matter of not getting in the way of them doing their job of attracting beneficial insects. Above all, do not use chemical insecticides – they will kill the good bugs along with the pests. With the predators gone, pest insects may immigrate to the garden and have a free-for-all. Instead, the goal is to have a natural balance between predators and prey. You don’t want to eliminate every last aphid, for example, because the ladybugs will have nothing to eat.

Beneficial Insects and the Pests They Prey On

 



Assassin Bugs

caterpillars, aphids



Damsel Flies

aphids, mites, caterpillars



Hoverflies

aphids, scale



Lady Bugs

aphids, mites



Lacewings

scale, aphids, mites



Pirate Bugs

aphids, mites, scales, thrips, whiteflies



Praying Mantis

all types of insects



Spiders

all types of insects



Stink Bugs

caterpillars
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