Beneficial Insects for your Garden:
- Sam
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
What are beneficial Insects?
Beneficial insects are insects that contribute to the health of your garden by playing their role in balancing the ecosystem. These insects are extremely important as without them, the ecosystem equilibrium would be disrupted.
Roles of Beneficial Insects:
Beneficial insects play a variety of different important roles such as keeping the number of unwanted pests down, pollination and even maintaining or improving soil nutrient availability.
Predators:
Ladybugs:
Many peoples favourite, the small but mighty ladybug is one of the most beneficial insects you may find in your garden. Ladybugs are amazing aphid hunters and are a great way to keep down aphid populations in your garden.
Lacewings:
These great predators are often mistaken as pests because of their green elongated body. Lacewings are excellent aphid hunters and also help pollinate plants!
Ground Beetles:
These unassuming insects eat nearly any pest that comes in its way. Make sure to not squash these beetles because they are helping your garden thrive!
Spiders:
Not everyone is a fan of spiders… but you should be! Spiders are incredible predators and are highly skilled at catching all types of prey. Spiders even eat those pesky mosquitoes!
Pollination:
Bees:
Everyone's favourite pollinator, the bumblebee, but have you heard of mason or leafcutter bees? Alberta has over 380 native species of bees but these three are the top pollinators. Mason bees have a blue body and are extremely effective at pollination. Leafcutter bees are similar to mason bees but their exterior is more reminiscent of a wasp. Leafcutter bees are very useful when planting tomatoes, alfalfa, blueberries, carrots, fruit trees, mints, peas, beans, onions and many wildflowers, for pollination.
Butterflies & Moths:
Butterflies are as beneficial to your garden as they are beautiful. As everyone knows, butterflies are amazing pollinators, but so are their relatives, moths! In order to attract butterflies and moths to your garden to pollinate, make sure to plant as many flowering plants as you can. Pro tip: Plant milkweed to attract monarch butterflies! Although a sighting is uncommon in Alberta, monarchs are heavily dependent on milkweed. The hummingbird clearwing moth is an excellent pollinator as well as a feat to see. These moths are often mistaken for hummingbirds due to their enormous size.
