Insect Friends and Foes 

This week we are celebrating our second annual Bug Week, which has included a seminar on garden insect management, a Bug Hotel workshop, a week-long scavenger hunt, and Friday’s Ladybug Garden workshop. 

Why did we create Bug Week? Well, as gardeners and stewards of the land, insects make a significant impact on how we manage our landscapes. I always think, “wouldn’t it be great if we could just teach the bugs how to read?” Then we could use tiny directional signs to tell the cabbage worms not to eat the broccoli, and the bees to pollinate the squashes. Since we can’t do that, it is important to be able to recognize insect damage, identify the bug in question, know when to act, and which products to use – without damaging insect populations that may actually be helping you. 

Before preemptively spraying your entire yard, follow these steps! 

1. Come to terms with the presence of bugs in your garden, and that your plants will not be “pristine”.  
2. Focus on soil and plant health. A healthy plant is better equipped to deal with stress. 
3. Choose your battles! Minor aesthetic damage does not require action. Damage that threatens the health and longevity of your plant should be addressed. Take notes on what you encountered last year when considering preventative measures.  
4. Identify the bug! Many insects like earwigs are active at night, so head out with a flashlight and play detective! Look closely at your plants, especially at new growth, along stems, and the undersides of leaves. Sucking bugs like aphids like to accumulate there. Use Google Lens as a starting point for identification, post and search in gardening groups online, or bring photos to us for help. 

See our guide to insect management: here. 

Please keep in mind as you purchase new perennial plants this year, that many insect management methods can harm the native pollinator or other insect species that you are trying to protect or attract by planting these plants. Even organic sprays such as Neem Oil and Spinosad are non-selective, meaning that by coating your garden with them, all caterpillars and larvae are at risk, not just the ones you are trying to combat. Never use any type of spray on pollinator host plants or your wildflower patch. 

Here are some common friends and foes that you may observe in your garden: 

Also known as roly-polys, this isopods’ job is to decompose rotting wood. If you have an infestation in your wooden raised bed, it might be time for a new one! Or, they are feeding on pieces of wood in your compost. These bugs do not feed on plants and are very beneficial in the environment. 

In late June and July, check the undersides of squash plant leaves for eggs. Scrape them off into a container of soapy water and dispose of them. Any adults must be hand-picked and disposed of in the same fashion. Sprays are not effective for these sucking bugs. Same goes for stink bugs and the Harlequin Cabbage Bug. 

Though quite small, this bug is a fierce predator. He is out to get any pest bugs you may have in your garden. It goes to show that although a bug may look scary and your impulse is to exterminate immediately, it is best practice to identify a bug before doing so.  

Pictured: hibiscus sawfly.  

Actually related to wasps, the larvae of various species of sawfly cause damage to their corresponding host plants, notably perennial hibiscus, roses, and dogwood. If damage was observed last year, spray Spinosad as a preventative in July, or at first sign of damage.  

The larvae of the green lacewing is called the “aphid lion” because it can consume up to 1,000 aphids per day. Ladybugs eat up to 50 aphids per day. Lacewing larvae are also more apt to stay put in your garden, while ladybugs often fly elsewhere. You can purchase both lacewing larvae and ladybugs now at the store! 

With thousands and thousands of species of bugs, the goal of Bug Week is to foster curiosity in all of the visitors to our gardens, and to encourage the community to make informed decisions when it comes to insect management. These little guys sure make a big impact on our lives!