Garden pests can be a major annoyance, and are often treated with harmful chemicals that can damage more than just the intended targets. However in many cases, attracting other species of insect and slightly larger predators can be just as effective, and can keep pests levels to a minimum. Knowing which species are good for this is often tricky, and some of them do have their downsides as well, however once you know how to attract them, seeing what works for your own garden is a lot easier.
Basically any species of insect that is a predator rather then something that eats plants is useful for pest removal to some degree. Although they might be unsightly and annoying in their own ways, carnivorous species are in fact a lot less destructive than herbivorous ones are. After all, although they may stray into the house, they are usually only going where there is sufficient prey to sustain them, as well as which they aren’t trying to eat anything of yours or that you own.
Ladybugs are a very welcome insect for many gardeners, as they eat many different types of scale bugs which can damage plants by drinking their sap. Most well known is that fact that ladybugs eat aphids, which are a common sight on many types of garden plant, particularly roses. Catching a few ladybugs is often enough to rid a plant completely of all its aphids, as they each eat several every day, and the aphids have no defense against them. Furthermore, ladybugs are foul tasting to predators such as birds, and also have the ability to flatten themselves against any solid surface as their legs fold away under them. This then leaves only their tough shell exposed, which smaller predators cannot pierce.
Dragonflies are often also effective for pest control, as they will eat all manner of flying nuisance, such as mosquitoes and houseflies in great quantity. They can often be seen near slow moving rivers or ponds, although will occasionally be seen in gardens without any water source. The best way to attract them of course is to have a pond in your garden, and to have plenty of places that they can land, such as reeds and lilly pads. Their larvae are actually advantageous as well, as they eat the larvae of mosquitoes which live in the same waters as them.
Similarly if you have a pond, then you should also think about obtaining or attracting some frogs and toads to your garden, which are both excellent predators. Because of their relatively large size compared to most insects, frogs and toads will
