Not all bugs in your garden are bad

Insects have been given a bad rap for far too long, often being thought of as pesky creatures that annoy us, bite us, or damage our gardens. However, the truth is that most insects are just going about their business, being a vital part of their particular ecosystem and contributing to the intricate web of life on our planet.

In fact, we need insects more than they need us!

One of the most significant benefits insects provide is pollination, with an estimated 50 to 80% of flowering plants requiring insects for pollination. Without these little helpers, we would be down by half the number of flowers on earth! The rock stars of pollinators are the honeybees, but did you know that Australia has more than 1500 species of native bees and many native species of wasps too?

While most pests in our gardens are insects, not all insects in our gardens are pests. It’s important to recognise the difference between good, bad, and benign insects and not accidentally harm the beneficial ones. Observing insects closely and looking for signs of damage or feeding on plants is the best way to tell which insects are beneficial and which ones are not.

Here are some examples that might help you tell the good from the bad:

APHIDS

While aphids are typically seen as pests in gardens due to their tendency to feed on plant sap and reproduce rapidly, they can also be parasitised by certain species of wasps like Aphilidius. These wasps lay their eggs inside the aphids, causing them to become swollen and discoloured. Once the wasp larvae have developed, they emerge from the aphids as adult wasps and can help control aphid populations by parasitising more aphids. This is an excellent example of natural pest control in action and shows how different species can interact in complex ways in ecosystems.

EARWIGS

Earwigs can have both beneficial and detrimental effects on plants. While some species, like the native Labidura, truncate, are primarily predatory and can help control other insect pests, introduced species like Forficula auricularia can be pests themselves and can cause significant damage to plants, particularly lettuces and other leafy greens. It’s important to correctly identify the species of earwigs in your garden to determine whether they are beneficial or harmful.

LACEWINGS

At first glance, lacewing larvae might be mistaken for a pest like a caterpillar. But Lacewings are a useful garden pest controller as they will eat a large array of insects live ants, aphids and small prey.

LADYBIRDS

Ladybirds are most people’s favourite garden bugs. They’re pretty and eat aphids, a killer combination. But there are good and bad Ladybugs, and it’s hard to tell which. But there are a few leaf-eating pest species to be aware of.

Best to avoid pesticides in your garden

In general, it’s best to avoid using pesticides or other chemical treatments in your garden unless absolutely necessary, as these can harm beneficial insects as well as pests. If an insect in your garden is not causing damage, there’s usually no need to do anything and you can simply enjoy the diversity of wildlife in your garden.

So let’s celebrate the insects in our gardens and appreciate the vital role they play in sustaining life on our planet. After all, they were here long before we were, and they’ll be here long after we’re gone!