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SOME INSECTS ARE 'GOOD GUYS;' HOW TO ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES
I don't use as many chemicals as I used to. Some day our children or grandchildren will look back with dismay at the high volume of herbicides and insecticides used by Americans during the second half of the 20th century.
Somewhere along the way, we adopted a "solve it with chemicals" mentality. I hear it in the phone calls: "There's are some big insects on my tree. What can I spray to kill them?"
Scientists are just now compiling the shocking evidence of how many beneficial insects are killed by our attempts to rid our gardens of insect "pests."
A recent study of home gardens in Indiana found that 33% of insects captured were beneficial predators, 60% were general feeding or non-pest insects, and only 7% were pest insects.
The most common predators found were ground beetles, ladybird beetles (ladybugs), spiders and fireflies. Other common predators found in gardens include lacewings, damsel bugs, stink bugs and rove beetles.
These beneficial insects are the "good guys," and we need to nurture, preserve, protect and encourage them to live in our gardens. We do not encourage beneficial insects when we spray plants with broad-spectrum insecticides.
Many of us need to change our reflex response upon discovering an insect. For many, the change needs to be from "Eh! An insect! Kill It!" to "Um, an insect...I wonder if it's a good guy or a bad guy?"
This new way of responding will require that we first learn to identify insects. Never spray a chemical on an insect you haven't identified because you may kill the natural enemy of the insect that eats your vegetables or flowers. In fact, by killing the beneficial insects, you may be inviting an invasion of harmful insects.
If you must use an insecticide, try one that doesn't affect non-target insects. For example, Bacillus thuringiensis (sold as BT, Thuricide) is specific to caterpillars and has little or no effect on other insects. Insecticidal soap is effective on soft-bodied pests, such as aphids and mites, but has little effect on harder-shelled insects, including most beneficial predators.
You can encourage natural enemies by leaving part of your yard naturalized. This diversity of plants and habitats helps give more opportunities to the "good guys." Using mulches in your garden helps to moderate temperature and gives predators places to hide.
Planting a variety of plants that flower at different times of the year also encourages predators. Beneficial insects feed on nectar and pollen as alternative food sources when pest insect populations are low. By providing other food sources, more good guys will be in your yard when you need them.
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You can attract butterflies to your yard with plants that produce nectar and host plants that provide food for larvae (caterpillars).
Nasturtiums, an annual, are wonderful butterfly plants because they bloom throughout the summer and provide lots of nectar.
Most perennials in the mint family are good nectar sources, as are coneflowers, lilac, butterflyweed and asters.
To attract the Painted Lady butterfly to lay eggs that hatch into larvae, include perennials like prairie thistles, pussytoes, black-eyed susans and sunflowers. Remember, the way to attract butterfly is by creating habitats that offer both nectar and larval food sources.
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PUTTING DOWN ROOTS:
A Delightful Blend of
Gardening Wisdom, Wit
and Whimsy
$10 + $2 for shipping
by Cliff Johnson |
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