Garden Bugs & Pests - Are All Bugs Baddies?
Harness nature’s warriors in the battle against garden pests and get the most from your garden. If you were told how to keep your plants looking good, prevent unsightly holes in leaves and improve the yield from your fruit and veg, then I’m sure I would get your attention in an instant. And if I described something that could do all these things, you might feel encouraged to read on, albeit with some scepticism. But what if I told you that this miracle solution to some of your horticultural woes was already in your garden
Insect pests can wreak havoc in the garden, some fly in to suck sap and have a nibble, while others crawl over you plants, grazing as they go. If you garden’s been plagued by creepy crawlies, then you’re not alone. But the good news is you don’t have to resort to chemicals to control them.
Of course, pests are not there purely to cause frustration to gardeners. Like the rest of life on the planet, they’re here to give something else a hearty meal. So if we encourage beneficial bugs to eat the pests that eat our plants, then we’ll be rewarded with more crops to eat and blooms to enjoy. Many beneficial insects already live in our gardens, and it is possible to introduce more. But don’t expect them to consume all of your pests. A natural balance exists between the different creatures in the food chain. As the population of garden pests increases, then the population of predators will also increase to take advantage of the glut. This of course, will lead to a decline in pests, leaving the predators with little to eat, so then their population declines.
This pattern of boom and bust means that there will always be some pests around. If there was 100% control, then the beneficial bugs wouldn’t have anything to eat. But by protecting those beneficial predatory bugs, you can keep the pests at tolerable levels.
The temptation when we see an insect is to flail at it and shoo it away, but there are very few that can harm us, Of course, many insects damage our plants, but there are several others that hungrily feed on these pests. As more chemicals disappear from garden centre shelves, gardening with nature may be our only viable option to limit many pest attacks. It makes economic sense, too. Beneficial bugs not only maintain a natural balance in your garden, helping to keep your plants healthy and productive, but will also reduce money spent on pesticides.
It's worth remembering that the chemicals used by gardeners for pest control can also harm beneficial insects, not to mention other garden wildlife which, judging by the popularity of TV programmes like Autumn Watch, we have a great interest in. We are increasingly being encouraged to think about what's been sprayed on our food, causing many people to opt for organic gardening methods, so they're in control. Beneficial insects are another weapon in the gardener's armoury.
Insect pests can wreak havoc in the garden, some fly in to suck sap and have a nibble, while others crawl over you plants, grazing as they go. If you garden’s been plagued by creepy crawlies, then you’re not alone. But the good news is you don’t have to resort to chemicals to control them.
Of course, pests are not there purely to cause frustration to gardeners. Like the rest of life on the planet, they’re here to give something else a hearty meal. So if we encourage beneficial bugs to eat the pests that eat our plants, then we’ll be rewarded with more crops to eat and blooms to enjoy. Many beneficial insects already live in our gardens, and it is possible to introduce more. But don’t expect them to consume all of your pests. A natural balance exists between the different creatures in the food chain. As the population of garden pests increases, then the population of predators will also increase to take advantage of the glut. This of course, will lead to a decline in pests, leaving the predators with little to eat, so then their population declines.
This pattern of boom and bust means that there will always be some pests around. If there was 100% control, then the beneficial bugs wouldn’t have anything to eat. But by protecting those beneficial predatory bugs, you can keep the pests at tolerable levels.
The temptation when we see an insect is to flail at it and shoo it away, but there are very few that can harm us, Of course, many insects damage our plants, but there are several others that hungrily feed on these pests. As more chemicals disappear from garden centre shelves, gardening with nature may be our only viable option to limit many pest attacks. It makes economic sense, too. Beneficial bugs not only maintain a natural balance in your garden, helping to keep your plants healthy and productive, but will also reduce money spent on pesticides.
It's worth remembering that the chemicals used by gardeners for pest control can also harm beneficial insects, not to mention other garden wildlife which, judging by the popularity of TV programmes like Autumn Watch, we have a great interest in. We are increasingly being encouraged to think about what's been sprayed on our food, causing many people to opt for organic gardening methods, so they're in control. Beneficial insects are another weapon in the gardener's armoury.
Ladybirds
In 2004, a new type of ladybird arrived in the UK. The Asian harlequin ladybird threatens our native species as it out competes them and even eats them. It comes in several colours, and so resembles many of our native ladybird species. Harlequins are large (7-8mm long), usually have a black 'W' behind their head and their legs are brown. They do eat aphids though, so not all bad!
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Centipede or Millipede?
You'll find millipedes in the soil, in compost heaps and in pot plants, where they feed on dead plant matter. But they also damage seedlings, strawberry fruits and potatoes. Don't confuse them with centipedes, which are beneficial in the garden. Millipedes have two pairs of legs on each segment and move slowly. Centipedes are quick off the mark and have one pair of legs on each segment.
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