Creatures That Help With Organic Pest Control

Controlling pests organically is a problem for many gardeners, but you can get a little help from your garden friends with this important aspect of gardening. There are quite a few creatures that are garden friendly and can help keep down the population of pests that munch on your garden plants. Here are some creatures you might want to invite into your garden to help with organic pets control:

Birds
Sometimes regarded as a pest, placing productive and nesting boxes near your garden will encourage birds into the garden where they feast on grubs, caterpillars, slugs and aphids.

Frogs and Toads
A garden pond is perhaps the ideal compliment to attract frogs and toads, however, they really only need water for breeding. Frogs and toads are excellent for controlling slugs, woodlice and other small insects.

Lady Beetles (lady bugs)
These aphid devouring predators are easily identifiable by most gardeners. The less familiar, slate-gray larvae are not as recognizable, but eat as much, if not more, than their adult counterparts. They can be lured into the garden by cultivating a varied selection of plants.

Ground Beetles
These black garden beetles prey on cutworms, leatherjackets, slugs, snails and many other pests that have a larvae or egg stage. Some species will even pursue prey that live on plants or trees such as gypsy moths and tent caterpillars. Providing permanent plantings, stones, or loose leaf cover will encourage these voracious hunters and give them a place to hide during the day. They will come out at night and feed on the pests. Adults can live 2-3 years.

Lacewings
Planting pollen and nectar flowers and providing a water source will encourage lacewings into your garden where they will lay their eggs on the underneath of leaves. These eggs will hatch in 4-7 days and the larvae will feed on aphids and other soft bodied insect pests for about 3 weeks, and then pupate in the soil for 5-7 days. Generally, 3-4 generations per year. Surviving adults will then overwinter and emerge in the Spring to begin the cycle.

Hover Flies/Flower Flies
The larvae, which resemble thin wasps, feed on aphids. Adult flies lay their eggs directly in the aphid colonies. Eggs hatch in 2-3 days and the larvae feed on aphids for 3-4 weeks. Two to four generations per year. Hover flies can be attracted to the garden by planting marigolds and nasturtiums close by.