5 Backyard Bugs that Are Good For Your Garden

By Francie Powers Pastor

The Pastures of Rose Creek

 

 

 

It's springtime and the creepy crawlies are celebrating. But are you celebrating the creepy crawlies? If you are like me, your first instinct when you see a spider is to grab a shoe or a newspaper and squash it, but keep in mind the next time you are swatting at mosquitoes or doing the friendly southern wave when gnats are in full force – those spiders are absolutely vital to keeping these pests at bay and it is in our best interest to keep our eight-legged friends around.

(And don’t forget to read on to discover what you’ll find this Saturday at the Oconee Farmers Market!)

Ladybugs:

Ladybugs are not only aphid eaters but they also eat the eggs of other insects. Ladybugs are round or broad with oval bodies.  Most species are orange, red, or yellow, with black spots. Mexican Beetles or Squash Beetles look very similar to lady bugs, but have a more yellowish brown coloring.

A friend recently told me that when the cold weather starts setting in, she collects as many ladybugs as she can and freezes them in the freezer. Then when ladybug-friendly weather rolls around, she unfreezes her little friends and they thrive and propagate.  

Granddaddy Longlegs:

Granddaddy Longlegs, or Harvestmen, are some of the most misunderstood critters around. They are not even spiders, but arachnids, a whole other species. Contrary to myth, granddaddies are not venomous – they have neither fangs nor venom.

Granddaddy Longlegs are great for your garden and home because they eat other insects as well as help break down plant and fecal matter.

Encourage Granddaddy Longlegs to thrive by leaving them be when you find them in your garden or under rocks. When found in undesired areas of your home, gently sweep or escort them outdoors.

Crickets:

You hear their songs nightly, but these critters are also valuable instruments in your garden. Not only are they an important source of food for other critters, they help break down plant material, which in turn restores valuable nutrients to the environment.

So the next time you take a moment to enjoy their nightly orchestra this summer, remember their full worth.

Earthworms:

Earthworms are slippery, slimy, and seem to be everywhere after it rains, but these fellas are some of the best tools we have for soil health. As a matter of fact, the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) says that the presence of earthworm is a very good sign of healthy soil.

Earthworms are important because they help breakdown organic material. Earthworm “poop” or “castings” are actually a great source of nutrients in itself. Earthworms aerate soil and help reduce erosion and provide channels for the roots of plants to take hold.

So the next time it rains and you see one of these guys struggling on the concrete, be a dear and remove him to some soil.  He will thank you by keeping your soil supplied with plenty of good dirt.

Honey Bees:

Though they can be intimidating in large numbers, honey bees are not aggressive. Honey bees rarely sting and usually only do so as a last resort because it entails ending their own life.

Honey bees are smaller than bumble bees and are golden brown in color with translucent wings.

Honey bees are vital to the pollination of plants. According to the Back Yard Bee Keepers Association, honey bees are responsible for 80 percent of all insect pollinations.

So, the next time you have a hankering to sweep aside that newly formed cobweb in your barn or shed, or dismiss some earthworm wriggling in distress on the hot concrete, remember that these critters are doing the earth’s work and keeping you and I supplied with bounty in our gardens.

Beneficial Bugs and the Market:

And when at the Oconee Farmers Market, you catch yourself admiring a lovely head of lettuce or the deep red beets – naturally grown and chemical free, of course! – you can silently thank the army of beneficial bugs doing nature’s work for you.

The Oconee Farmers Market runs each Saturday in front of the Courthouse, downtown Watkinsville from 8 a.m. –  1 p.m. and Tuesdays on the lawn of the Watkinsville First Christian Church, 4 Main Street from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

What You’ll Find This Saturday:

As always, the market will have free water and coffee for guests as well as live music. This week's musician is David Court on the dulcimer and harmonica. Check out some of his work here. 

Don't miss the season's first of peaches, squash, zucchini, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes at the market this Saturday in addition to: 

• mixed produce
• beef
• chicken
• pork
• lamb
• fresh farm eggs
• honey
• cakes
• pies
• cookies
• breakfast items
• granolas
• fresh pastas
• breads
• handcrafted items
• plants
• and much, much more!