When we garden, we try our best to keep bugs away. Although most bugs are harmful, some are actually beneficial to our garden. Some of the good bugs include, ladybugs, praying mantis, and spiders. But the bad bugs are, Aphids, snails, and slugs. There are obviously a lot more good and bad bugs out there, but these are a few common ones!
Not only are ladybugs a sign for goodluck, they keep predators away from plants. Ladybugs prey on aphids, mites and fleas. dill, dandelion, and common yarrow are a few of the many plants that ladybugs are attracted to. With only being less than a quarter inch long, they sure eat a lot of aphids in there lifetime. In Fact, they consume thousands.
The Praying Mantis is always a unique bug to see, but little do most people know, they keep our beautiful plants from harmful bugs. The bugs they protect against are caterpillars, moths, beetles, and crickets. Some of the plants that praying mantis like are dill, grass, and shrubs. Lucky there two front legs keep away all the predators.
Not all spiders are bad. Although some may sneak into our homes, they do well to our gardens. They prey on aphids, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. But if they do crawl inside your house, don’t be too alarmed. They also prey on bed bugs and fruit flies. Spiders like any tall plant because its easiest to make a web around.
Aphids, on the other hand, are bad for plants. They produce fungus which hurts the plants and may even kill them. They are small and have a sharp mouth. It is a nightmare to have these pests invading your harvest.
Lastly, snails and slugs are commonly found in gardens and will hurt the crops in no time. Although they are tiny, they will eat what’s left of the planted seeds overnight. Try keeping your plants in the sun or in dry areas to avoid these pests.