Beneficial Insects Every Gardener Should Know

Ladybugs consume 5,000 aphids in a lifetime. Earthworms aerate soil and accelerate decomposition. Bees pollinate 75% of food crops.

Lacewings devour mealybugs and thrips. Ground beetles hunt slugs and snails. Hoverflies pollinate while their larvae eat aphids.

Praying mantises control pest populations. Parasitic wasps lay eggs inside pest caterpillars. A healthy garden needs these allies. Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides that kill beneficial insects alongside pests. Plant diverse flowers to attract and sustain them..