Are You a Good Bug or a Bad Bug?

Doubtless everyone is aware that there are good bugs
and bad bugs.  Just like the witches in The Wizard of Oz. 
There are lots of beneficials that pollinate our gardens and 

EAT
the bad bugs.

 But, do you know how to attract them and KEEP them in your garden?

Aphids and earwigs and thrips, oh my!!

Allowing aphids and their buddies to feast on your plants is inviting disease,

a sure potential for a lower yield, and puts all other plants in the vicinity at risk.

Most bad bugs suck.

Many of these 'sucking' insects (in both senses of the word) can

transmit disease by leaving wounds on the plants where diseases can enter easily, their feeding and sucking will weaken the plant so it is more susceptible to disease, and are also often carriers 

(called vectors) of diseases.

One sure way to keep your plants healthy and to keep insect predators at bay is to have
an army of very hungry, very diligent good bugs on staff.

The beneficial / predatory insects work  for cheap around the clock,

hunting and searching for something to eat.

They cost you nothing.

Spraying pesticides, which does cost money, is not necessary and I promise you that
100% of the time,  you are going to miss a few bad bugs.  Those you miss will be only too

happy to procreate and keep on wreaking havoc.

Spraying pesticides is also indiscriminate and will kill the
beneficial insects, too. The pesticide house doesn't just land on the bad witch.

An interesting side note that no doubt reflects trending public opinion on neonicitinoids is that
the Minnesota Department of Agriculture
has issued new statutes regarding labeling of plants.
Any plants advertised as being beneficial to insects or useful in attracting beneficial insects
MUST NOT have been treated with neonics. 
Be sure to check this, as neonics are systemic, meaning they also harm
the beneficials visiting that plant.

 

If you have been following the newsletters, you've heard a lot about beneficials.

If you have been coming out to Gracie's Plant Works, you've seen the

signs and the plants we suggest for attracting beneficials to your garden.
We have been practicing this method of pest management for several
years and know it is effective.

 This is a photo of the impossibly tiny aphid midge Aphidoletes Aphidimyza.

It looks like it has just landed on Mars, but it is sitting on top of a bed of the finest,
tiniest vermiculite particles I've ever seen.

They were released in the greenhouse last spring to prevent an aphid infestation.

Greenhouses, by providing heat, moisture, and baby plants with their 

tender bits and new growth are irresistible to aphids, thrips,

mites, whiteflies, and fungus gnats.

BUT.  What they lack in size is more than made up by their appetite.

And it worked.  We didn't see an aphid in the entire growing house this spring.

We only heard the aphidoletes saying "I'll get you, my pretty!" 

 You can read the previous post HERE

A common organic integrated pest management (IPM) strategy

is to plant 'banker' plants in greenhouses.  These plants, typically barley,

play nursery to the beneficial insects and are released into

organic greenhouses to control pests.

This same method

will work for our outside gardens if we provide habitat for

beneficial insects and attract them to our yard.

Several plants that are great attractors of beneficials:

•  Sweet Alyssum
• Borage
• Anise Hyssop
• Daisies
• Fennel and Dill
• Corn
• Bachelor's Buttons

Providing food, shelter, and water are important in making our 'guests' comfortable.

Another way to attract and retain bees is to supply habitat in the form of nesting boxes.
These nesting boxes mainly attract Mason bees, a very docile and non-stinging type.

The USFWS is considering adding the Monarch butterfly to the endangered

species list.   The Monarch's main food supply, milkweed, is being wiped out with

the widespread use of Roundup/glysophate.  While Monsanto urges everyone to 

'pay no mind to that man behind the curtain', certainly other beneficial insects are suffering

due to loss of habitat, too.

Monarchs, incidentally the state butterfly of Minnesota, are also susceptible to weather, predation, and loss of habitat in their wintering grounds in Mexico.  They are particularly vulnerable because the grand majority of the remaining population overwinters in the same area, and a 

catastrophic event could wipe out the entire colony.

So, if we gardeners can provide beneficial insects as a whole and these regal butterflies

safe haven and a source of food, we'll be doing our part to help them rebound.

While we're all busy planning the spring planting, let's save some room

for some plants that will be beacons to our beneficials.

Plant some beneficial insect-attracting plants and you'll have a healthy population of

 good bugs sticking around because

"There's no place like home"

Happy Gardening,

Kathy and Patty