Beneficial Insects for your Garden:

What are beneficial Insects?

Beneficial insects are insects that contribute to the health of your garden by playing their role in balancing the ecosystem. Beneficial insects play a variety of different important roles in our gardens, like keeping the number of unwanted pests down, pollination and 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. Aphids can be detected by the sticky residue they leave on plant surfaces, called honeydew. By sucking the sap from plants, they can damage or weaken your plants. The same chemicals that kill aphids will also kill its predators, so consider introducing ladybugs as a natural control to pests like aphids.

Lacewings:

These great predators are often mistaken as pests because of their green elongated body. Lacewings are excellent pollinators and, just like ladybugs, can also help keep pest populations under control, like aphids, mealybugs, and thrips.

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:

Bumblebees are a favourite pollinator, 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 pollinators when planting tomatoes, alfalfa, blueberries, carrots, fruit trees, mints, peas, beans, onions and many wildflowers.

Leafcutter Bee

Bumblebee

Mason Bee

Butterflies & Moths:

Butterflies are as beneficial to your garden as they are beautiful. As everyone knows that 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.  

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

Monarch Butterfly