So, whenever I talk about insects in the garden with anyone, they end up taking it negatively…like the insects shouldn’t be there. The truth is – that’s exactly where they belong.
Though certain insects can be a real nuisance in the garden, there are some that you deliberately want to attract as they positively impact the whole garden ecosystem.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at 9 of those beneficial insects that can massively improve your spring garden!
9 Beneficial Insects You Want In Your Garden
1: Ladybugs
I feel like ladybugs aren’t given the credit they often deserve. I mean…the world knows them because they’re…well…colorful and vibrant. But, there’s more to ladybugs than just that.
They can be very helpful in the garden for reducing aphid, scale insect, and other pest populations in a relatively short timeframe.
2: Lacewings
Lacewings are great in the sense that gardeners know they’re super productive and they’re appreciated the same way. These green, winged insects produce larvae that feast on aphids, thrips, and whiteflies, bringing harmful pest populations under control in no time.
I’ve included lacewings in many of my pest control articles because I’ve seen them in action and I can tell you that they’re overqualified for the job.
3: Hoverflies
Many people tend to confuse hoverflies with bees because they share a very similar outer appearance from a distance. These insects are not only beneficial for improving overall garden pollination but they also produce larvae that prey on aphids and other soft-bodied pests.
4: Parasitic Wasps
Something quite interesting about parasitic wasps is that they need to lay their eggs on or inside other insects for them to grow properly. Though this may sound a little strange and disturbing, that’s just how nature is.
Anyways, parasitic wasps are excellent for controlling harmful pests and insect populations in the garden.
5: Ground Beetles
These glossy black beetles are fantastic nocturnal hunters that eat slugs, snails, and grubs. You can introduce them in your garden for beneficial reasons, but do keep in mind that they can sometimes feed on seeds and developing shoots as well.
6: Praying Mantises
When I was young, I was so scared of praying mantises lurking around my mom’s backyard garden. They’re still just as scary to me, but I also realize that they can be very useful in the garden.
Their fierce predatory instincts allow them to control large pest and insect populations extremely efficiently.
7: Tachinid Flies
Although tachinid flies look like regular flies, they do quite the magical work in the garden. These flies parasitize caterpillars, stink bugs, and beetle larvae, keeping them from spreading and causing unwanted trouble that could stress out and weaken your crops.
8: Dragonflies
I’ve been quite vocal about the benefits of attracting dragonflies to the garden.
As a matter of fact, I wrote a whole article about it: Plants That Attract Dragonflies to Your Garden!
These vibrant, speedy flying insects eat mosquitoes, flies, and other winged pests that could be lurking around them. Growing certain plants that attract dragonflies is a solid strategy for improving your overall garden ecosystem.
9: Spined Soldier Bugs
Despite the complex and scary name that sounds straight out of a Captain America film, spined soldier bugs are actually quite simple looking and you can mistake them for just about any other bug.
The “spined” in the name actually comes from the fact that these bugs have 2 sharp spines poking out from both sides behind their heads.
Good thing is spined soldier bugs are beneficial to the garden ecosystem and they prey on caterpillars, beetles, and other soft-bodied pests and insects.
