Beneficial Insects

For some people hearing the word beneficial and insect together is quite the oxymoron.  However, when it comes to gardening or anything plant related insects make the plant world go ‘round.  I’m sure the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear insects and plants is the wonderful and trustworthy bees and butterfly’s; our marvelous pollinators.  Although, these insects may be the most noteworthy when it comes to keeping our outside world bright and beautiful, there are other very important hard-working insect warriors that give us growers a much needed hand in the garden.   

We will of course begin our insect tour with the remarkable pollinators.  They are extremely important not only to the aesthetics of the outside world, but also to our well-being as humans.  Did you know… that “at least 80% of our world's crop species require pollination to set seed? An estimated one out of every three bites of food comes to us through the work of animal pollinators.”

The next category of beneficial insects includes many different creepy crawlers that aide in pest control of the not-so-good insects (the Orkin man of the insect world).  As top insect predators, they play a significant role in keeping your plants free of those not-so-good insects.  And, if you ask me they are some of the most remarkable 6 legged and 8 legged creatures on the planet. 

This phenomenal arachnid numbers up to 40,000 different types of species.  Despite their sometimes scary appearance and negative connotation, they should be celebrated as the gardener’s best friend, catching any kind of insect that falls into their web.

These exclusive meat-eating predators not only enjoy other insects and praying mantises as meals, they have also been known to prey on small scorpions, birds, frogs, fish, and even lizards.  Their fantastic camouflage and remarkable speed put them in the same league as other ambush predators a hundred times their size. 

The Dragonfly is the ultimate aerial killer, reaching speeds of almost 56 miles per hour, with the proficiency to dive-bomb, hover like a helicopter, and even fly backwards to capture their prey.  Not many flying insects have the capability to escape such a predator.

Hopefully, this journey has opened your eyes to the wonderful world of entomology and all its complexities.  So, next time you’re enjoying the outside or working in your very own garden; don’t spray, squish, and eliminate every single bug you come across!  Some of those creepy crawlers are just as essential as the plants themselves. 

Referenced Sites: http://listverse.com/2010/08/09/10-formidable-predatory-insects/ , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beneficial_insects , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollinator