Environment

August Tip: Garden Bugs

Do you remember years ago when your family car returned from a road trip with many insects smashed on the front of the radiator? Not so much anymore.

We have become adept at the development and widespread use of chemicals that kill every insect with which they come in contact.

The good thing is we killed off lots of problematic bugs. The bad thing is we also killed off lots of beneficial bugs.

In the end, there are no bad bugs, only a bad balance between numbers and kinds of bugs. They all have a place in the web of life. However, when we create a garden, or a farm field, we are setting up a situation that may invite a bug or two. Now we are ready to get rid of them!

We can spray a broad-spectrum insecticide like pyrethrin, or we can use a less toxic spray like an insecticidal soap or neem oil. (Check label for specificity for your bugs) We can use a strong hose spray to knock bugs off. We can walk through a smaller garden and pick bugs off.

But it might be interesting to promote and tolerate the presence of bugs that help out in the garden- some bugs are our friends! There are three main groups of beneficial garden bugs: pollinators, predators, and parasitoids:

• Pollinators: Bees, bumblebees, butterflies and moths, and to a lesser extent some wasps, flies and beetles.
• Predators: Lady bugs, assassin bugs, praying mantis, green lacewing larvae, damsel bug, spiders and mites. (and don’t forget birds feed chicks only with fresh meat- insects and caterpillars!)
• Parasitoids: Many different types of wasps attack aphids and caterpillars like cabbage worms. Tachinid flies attack caterpillars and Japanese beetles.

The aim is to try to maintain various bugs in the garden, none too many, and see if we can reach a balance- maybe share a bit with a few bugs and see if they will limit some other bugs. So whip out your insect field guide and a magnifying glass and investigate!

Check out these websites:

Piedmont Master Gardeners

NCSU Insect Management