Garden Variety INVITING INSECTS TO HELP
The challenge: You’d like to attract more lady beetles, syrphid flies, lacewings and soldier beetles to help suppress insect pests in your garden.
The solution: To create an inviting habitat for beneficial insects, plant a wide variety of flowering plants. Include some such as dill and yarrow that have flat clusters of small flowers. Also plant sweet alyssum, asters and daisies. Research at Michigan State University found native plants such as golden Alexanders, yellow coneflower, spotted beebalm, cup plant, boneset and Riddell’s goldenrod to be among the best for attracting beneficial insects. For a continuous source of pollen and nectar to keep the insect helpers well fed, plan for a parade of blooms from early spring to late fall. Refrain from using pesticides, which kill predators, parasitoids and pollinators as well as the insect pests.
Pluses: A garden filled with flowers in all seasons pleases not only beneficial insects but human visitors, too. This approach to pest control is free as well as environmentally friendly.
Minuses: A small amount of plant damage may occur before predators and parasitoids arrive to help. To make use of natural enemies of garden pests, you must practice patience when your first instinct might otherwise be to reach for a chemical control.
Sources: For more information see “Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native Flowering Plants” at nativeplants.msu.edu (search by title). Also see “Attracting Beneficial Insects to the Garden with Beneficial Flowers” at reneesgarden.com (search by title). You can find a wide variety of plants native to the Midwest at Prairie Moon Nursery, (866) 417-8156, prairiemoon.com and Prairie Nursery, (800) 476-9453, prairienursery.com.