by doccat5

Created on: April 13, 2008   Last Updated: April 14, 2008

It's a BUG EAT BUG world out there.
Let me introduce you to the Natural Born Killers of your garden!

Tired of dealing with hordes of hungry aphids, legions of grubs and and pesky flies? Before you grab that pesticide and start spraying, check out some of the natural killers you may already have available and over looked.

What? Not many or none in your yard? Let me show you where you can get some and additionally make suggestions on how to create a organic habitat where your beneficials will want to stay and feast on the "bad" bugs. These bugs are not harmful to humans or pets but target garden pests as their food source. Thus making your garden a lot safer and enjoyable place for you, your pets and the environment.

By introducing beneficial insects to your garden and making sure you are providing the appropriate habitat, you can greatly control infestations of those bugs that damage and destroy your flowers and vegetables.

Some of examples of beneficial predators are predatory wasps, praying mantises, lady bugs, big eyed bugs, damsel bugs, assassin bugs, lacewings, bean beetle parasites to name a few should be welcome to your garden. In all stages of their lives. Not only do they look creepy, the names even sound creepy, but they can do the job for you.

To attract and keep beneficials hanging around your garden, you need to keep a few things in mind and include some basic plants in your overall garden plans. If you include an maintain these alternate sources of pollen and nectar you will always be assured of having plenty of these natural killers on hand to help you in your garden.

Because insects tend to have different feeding requirements during the various stages of their development, a diversity of plant material is essential to attracting them. Although beneficial insects do feast on pest insects, there may be certain points in their life cycles when their diets are confined to nectar and pollen. So to attract these insects to your garden, you will need to provide host plants and even plants for shelter.

Diversity in both plant material and season of availability are crucial. Hedge rows used to serve this function. The trees, shrubs and weeds would leaf out sooner in the spring than cultivated crops and provide early food sources.

Hedge rows are rare today, but you could easily plant a mixed border of fruiting and flowering trees and shrubs and perennials that has something in bloom all season. This patchwork of plants would benefit your ornamentals and planting

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