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.
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.
Article from articlesbase.com
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