by Connie Sue

Created on: March 05, 2009

Natural pest control is easier than you would expect. Doing your part to protect the environment includes omitting traditional chemicals in the process of eliminating the destructive pests. There are several organic products to nurture and feed your garden and yard plants. No harm to the animals, environment or you in the process of applying them. Using beneficial insects to rid your garden and yard of pests is also cost effective. The need to keep reapplying is omitted, you may need to feed the insects you have implanted into your yard or garden, even the cost to provide them nutrition is less than the use of chemicals.

Nematodes

Nematodes are microscopic roundworms. These little unseen creatures seek out and destroy soil borne pests. They do not harm earthworms or your plants. The insects they love to feed on are fleas, termites, caterpillars, army worms, cucumber beetles, Asiatic garden beetles, strawberry root, carrot, and citrus weevils, cabbage and onion maggots, fall and sod webworms, rose chafers, ants, roaches, grubs, flea and Japanese beetles, and many more.

Nematodes come in containers of different sizes depending on how much area you wish to cover, they mix with water and are spray applied to the soil. Depending on the weather, such as severe winters they may not survive. Reapplication is not necessary as there is a seed mix to apply that will keep them well fed if the pest insects diminish.

Ladybugs

Ladybugs have a menu filled with insects they like to devour. The menu for Ladybugs include aphids, asparagus beetle larvae, thrips, alfalfa weevils, bean thrips, Colorado potato beetle larvae, whitefly and mites, chinch bugs and other soft body insects and the eggs.

There are even houses you can purchase to provide a central home for them. The home is treated so that it lures ladybugs to your yard. The lure will also call to the lacewings and other beneficial insects mentioned in this article.

Green Lacewing

These are tiny fly like insects, the wings are transparent. The green lacewing larvae devour pests and eggs by injecting them with venom. The larval stage lasts five days, then the adults mate and the cycle begins again. These bugs are considered the most versatile and beneficial bug to use in your garden.

Lacewings love to feed on aphids, spider mites, moth eggs, mealybugs, leafhopper nymphs, thrips, scale and whitefly. To keep your lacewings happy and at home there is a Good Bug Power Meal to use in your garden. This meal will actually feed most of your

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