Who says bugs can't be cool?
by Ann Safford

The summer bugs are here. With warm weather inviting every species of insect (it seems) to take up living in our yards, there is such a thing as a "good bug."

Before you pull out your fly swatter and DEET, read up on some of the good insects you might want to invite into your home or garden. They are cheaper and easier than pesticide; require no maintenance and the biggest benefit is they are healthier for you and the environment.

Here is the lowdown on some of the good bugs:

The Big Eyed Bug. These small 3-6 millimeter sized bugs eat spider mites, aphids and a host of different worms. They can eat dozens a day! They are fond of goldenrod and sunflowers but their eating won't damage plants. They are very sensitive to pesticides. You can notice them by their distinct criss-cross pattern on their back.

The Braconid Wasp. These bugs like to prey on aphids, flies, coddling moths, a wide variety of worms and other pests. These look pretty much like any other wasp, only not as bright and are usually black or brown. Use caution if you have a bee allergy!

The Green Lacewing. If you're not familiar with these bugs, they are delicate looking, greenish colored bugs with big, bulgy eyes. They love to eat soft-bodied insects, such as larvae and mealy bugs. They will also eat scaly bugs such as spider mites. If you want to attract these guys, have some pollen or nectar available.

Who says bugs can't be cool? Keep your eyes open for these good guys and let them hang out for a while and keep your homestead free from all those "bad bugs!"

Comments

Name

E-mail (Will not appear online)

Homepage

Title

Comment

To prevent automated Bots form spamming, please enter the text you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.