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GARDENER'S
READING ROOM
Fertilizers,
Pest Control and Soil Management
Organic Gardening
The
Battle between Good and Evil . . . Insects
 As
the days start lengthening, you might find yourself venturing
outside checking on your roses looking for the early signs
of spring. The new growth is there—and so are the aphids—already!
Before you grab the nearest can of pesticide, give some thought
about good insects vs. bad insects, and wash those early aphids
off with a shot from the hose.
The
larvae of lady beetles (ladybugs), aphidiid wasps, lacewings,
and aphid midges all feed on aphids. So do adult damselflies
(beautiful to watch). Ground beetles eat slugs and snails
(!), cutworms, and root maggots. Rove beetles and their larvae
prey on mites, aphids, and maggots. Some beetles feed on scale
insects, as do some lacewings. Spiders play a huge role in
keeping insect populations down. For that matter, when you
see your yard blanketed with starlings after a heavy spring
rain, don’t chase them away: they’re eating cranefly
larvae for you! Many non-predatory insects are also highly
beneficial—as pollinators or soil builders.
Before
you go out to do your initial pesticide application this spring,
please consider that you’re killing not only the bad
insects but also the good ones. A healthy garden is not insect
free!
Watch
for a detailed article in our May issue on good insects, bad
insects, and some alternative ways to control pests.
By Susan Ragan Stuart, W.C.N.
Skylights Winter/Spring 2000, Vol 14, No. 1
Other
articles on fertilizers, pest control and soil
management
Other
articles on organic gardening
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