When NOT to Kill a Garden Bug
The fastest way to make pest problems worse is to kill every insect you see.
Many garden insects are:
- Pollinators
- Predators
- Parasitoids
- Decomposers
- Harmless visitors
Don’t Kill It Until You Identify It
Take a photo.
Look at:
- Body shape
- Color
- Number of legs
- Wings
- Where it is feeding
Leave Predators Alone
Keep:
- Lady beetles
- Lacewing larvae
- Hover fly larvae
- Ground beetles
- Assassin bugs
- Many spiders
These animals eat pests.
Leave Parasitized Pests Alone
A hornworm covered in white cocoons should stay.
An aphid that has turned into a swollen brown “mummy” has likely been parasitized.
These are evidence that beneficial wasps are working.
Don’t Panic Over Leaf Damage
A few holes do not mean the plant is in danger.
Healthy plants can tolerate some feeding.
Caterpillars Can Be Butterflies
Before killing a caterpillar, identify it.
Some are:
- Monarchs
- Swallowtails
- Fritillaries
Host-plant feeding is part of a butterfly garden.
Wasps Are Often Helpful
Many solitary and social wasps hunt caterpillars.
Give them space unless they pose a safety problem near people.
Beetles Are Not All Bad
Some beetles are pests.
Others are predators.
Ground beetles and soldier beetles can be beneficial.
Use a Threshold
Ask:
Is this insect causing enough damage that the plant cannot tolerate it?
If not, treatment may be unnecessary.
GardenGrowz Tip
The goal is not an insect-free garden.
The goal is a garden where pests never gain enough advantage to cause serious damage.