As a gardener, you’re always on the lookout for invasive or destructive bugs that can munch their way through your plants and ruin the hard work that you put in during the growing season. You might not be as familiar with the garden-friendly bugs that thrive in North Texas. By crowding out unwanted pests, these five critters act as natural bug repellents.
1. Aphid Midge
These creatures give a whole new meaning to the term “small, but deadly.” While the adult flies are innocuous, their larvae are the aphid’s worst nightmare. Each tiny, bright orange slug can eat as many as 60 full-grown aphids per day by delivering a powerful toxin that allows them to devour the leaf-munching insects from the inside out. Aphid midges lay their eggs among the leaves of plants that produce large amounts of pollen, so be sure to space some evenly throughout your garden.
2. Ladybug
The ladybug needs no introduction. These iconic red-and-black insects also eat aphids and they’re attracted by a wide range of plants. They’re particularly fond of geraniums and herbs like fennel, so don’t skimp on those. Also, be on the lookout for Asian beetles that sport similar dots against a paler backdrop. If you see any of these in your landscaping, you’ll want to explore your pest control options before the problem gets out of hand.
3. Hover Flies
Hover flies dress up like bees, but they lack stingers and pose no threat to humans. More importantly, they’re not picky eaters: In addition to common pests like caterpillars and aphids, they’re avid consumers of trickier bugs like scales, thrips and mealybugs. Since hover flies love nectar, they’ll hang around gardens with pollen-producing plants.
4. Nematodes
Even if they weren’t microscopic, you probably wouldn’t notice these tiny worms. After all, they’re pure parasites that slither around beneath your garden’s soil and consume all manner of bug larvae. Nematodes are particularly fond of root-munching bugs. You can buy them in bulk from a reputable Dallas pest control specialist.
5. Praying Mantis
As one of the largest insects that’s native to Texas, the praying mantis is like the great white shark of the bug world. Few garden pests are safe from the wrath of this carnivorous beast. Praying mantises are particularly fond of destructive moths, beetles, grasshoppers and aphids. As an added bonus, they rack up mosquito kills like there’s no tomorrow.
While these five bugs are great for your landscaping, there are plenty of others that have no place in the garden. If you suspect that you’ve got the wrong kinds of critters crawling around your flower beds, call us at ABC Home & Commercial Services or visit us online to get the skinny on pest control in Dallas.