Bugs: The Good and the Bad

Rebecca's Garden : Episode REB-728 -- More Projects »
Entomologist Howard Russell of Michigan State University collects and studies thousands of insects. He shares these tips about bugs in the garden.

The Bad
Many "bad bugs" can severely damage vegetable crops, orchards, nurseries, golf courses and even backyard landscapes. The tomato hornworm, cabbage looper and squash vine borer cause problems in vegetable gardens. In the northeast and midwest, the white grub likes to feed on lawns, perennials and root vegetables.

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Figure A
Flower gardens are also "bugged" by mealy bugs, thrips and aphids (figure A). If your hosta is looking holey, then most likely slugs are to blame. For homeowners who prize their trees, spider mites are a big nuisance. Trees that invite the most spider mite damage include blue spruce, Norway spruce (Picea abies), arborvitae (Thuja) and Fraser fir.
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Figure B
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Figure C
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Figure D
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Figure E
The Good
The key to keeping bad bugs from destroying your garden is proper plant care. There is good news—for every bad bug out there, there are plenty of good ones. Ladybugs (figure B) are great because they dine on aphids, mealybugs, spider mites and whiteflies. Praying mantis (figure C) feed on a wide range of pests, including aphids, flies and beetles. Spined soldier bugs or stink bugs (figure D) munch on many types of beetles and other garden pests. Parasitic wasps help to get rid of aphids, cabbage loopers, hornworms and whiteflies. Ground beetles, spiders and honeybees are also good bugs. But the most important of these predators is one of the tiniest, green lacewings (figure E), because they feed on many soft-bodied insects.

"If You Build It, They Will Come"
If you want to take full advantage of the natural enemies in the garden, then invite beneficial bugs by growing a welcome mat of plants and flowers that provide food and a home for them. These include Alyssum, yarrow (Achillea), marigold (Tagetes), fennel (Foeniculum) and dill (Anethum).

Also in this Episode
Rebecca's Garden : Episode REB-728
•Potscaping
•Bugs: The Good and the Bad
•Growing Green in NYC
•Asiatic Lilies