A Summer of Beneficial Insects
Because they are cold blooded and rely on warmth to become mobile, insects thrive in the long days and soaring temperatures of summer. Summer is the best time to observe insect life in your garden or lawn. Some gardeners think of all insects as pests, but many insects are helpful and eat the insects that destroy our gardens. Lacewings, Lady Bugs, Pirate Bugs, Earwigs, and Hoverflies are some of the “good” insects. Larger insects, including Mantids, Assassin Bugs and some beetles prey upon caterpillars and other large plant-eating insects. Most plant-eating insects prefer specific types of plants as food, while good insects hunt prey on a variety of plants. A good way to identify these good insects is to notice where you see them. If they occur near many different plant species, they’re likely to be insects that eat the pests that destroy our gardens.
Viewer Tip: One of the best ways to support beneficial insects in the garden is to reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides. Small populations of pests are necessary to provide a constant food source for good insects. Leaving areas of the landscape unmowed will also favor the presence of good insects.
This information is provided by the Georgia Wildlife Federation. For more information on landscaping for wildlife, including plants that provide habitat for beneficial insects, visit www.gwf.org.
Season: Summer
(Sources: Georgia Wildlife Federation, www.gwf.org; University of Georgia, http://lpm.uga.edu/beneficials/beneficials.html)