| |
I know many people who are terrified of bees, and rightly so because they are allergic to bee stings. It is important to understand that honeybees and bumblebees are generally not aggressive insects. They tend to stick to their work, buzzing from flower to flower collecting nectar to take back to their hive. In the process, bees do us the huge favor of pollinating our gardens. If you have planted a vegetable garden, blueberries, blackberries, or most any type of fruiting plants this year, remember to thank the bees and other pollinating insects for their hard work. Can you imagine how tedious it would be to try to pollinate each individual flower in your garden with a little brush? To attract bees to your garden throughout the season, plant plenty of annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs that bloom in a wide range of colors throughout the year.
Spiders give me the creeps. I am not the type of person that jumps on a countertop and screams at the sight of an eight-legged, creepy-crawly critter, but I certainly do not play with them, either. The truth is, spiders can devour an enormous amount of insects in their lifetime. The downside to this is that spiders are not picky eaters. They will eat both harmful and beneficial insects. Regardless, I can appreciate something that is reducing the number of mosquitoes in my garden.
Contrary to popular belief, there are only four species of poisonous spiders in the United States. The hobo, yellow sac, brown recluse, and black widow spiders are poisonous to humans. Of the four, only the brown recluse and black widow are common in North Carolina. These two are typically found in dark, cool, dry spaces. Wolf spiders are one of the most common spider species found in our area. If you are curious about how many spiders are in your garden, try this out: Go outside at night with a flashlight. Hold the flashlight up at your eye level and look around in the grass and in your garden (yes, your neighbor will think that you have finally lost it). Any reflective spots that you see will more than likely be wolf spiders. Trust me; you will see more than a few.
Praying mantids are, without a doubt, some of the coolest bugs around. The praying mantis is a green or brown carnivorous insect that can be up to six inches long. When at rest, the front legs of the mantids are folded under its head in a “praying” fashion. They wait, perfectly motionless, for their prey to come within reach, and then strike out with their strong front legs which are covered with overlapping spines. The mantis then devours its meal and starts the process over again. Mantids have a triangular shaped head which has a remarkable range of motion, much more than other insects. The females lay egg casings in the fall on stems of trees and shrubs. The casings are a little smaller than a table tennis ball and light brown in color. They young mantids hatch in the spring months and begin the life cycle all over again. If you have the opportunity to observe one of these insects in your garden, take time to do it. They are remarkable creatures.
Ladybugs are probably the most beneficial insect to have in our gardens. In both the juvenile and adult stages, ladybugs can devour thousands of garden pests. They predominately feed on aphids, which are common garden pests in North Carolina. Ladybugs are actually not bugs at all, they are beetles. They were originally imported from Australia to help control aphid infestations on citrus trees. Over four hundred species of ladybugs can be found in the U.S. today. We commonly get calls here at the garden center from people whose homes have been “infested” with ladybugs in the late winter months. These are Asian ladybugs that were imported to help control aphids on soybean crops. They tend to like the temperatures of our homes during the winter months. Ladybugs can be purchased in small containers and released in the garden to help control pest populations. It is best to wet an area in the garden and release the insects in the wet area when it is dark. The beetles are more prone to stay where they are released this way.
These are just a few of our beneficial garden buddies that help make a gardeners life easier. Remember that many insecticides will also kill these insects and some spiders as well. Be sure to read the label on all insecticides to help lessen the adverse affect of chemicals on beneficial insects.
|
|
