Rather than using toxic chemicals to keep insect pests out of your garden, consider adding natural predator insects instead. Predator insects such as ladybugs, praying mantis, tiger beetles, and lacewings can be purchased from garden suppliers and released in your yard.
These beneficial insects can reduce the number of insect pests in your yard that damage plants. Watch this video to find out more.
Further Information
- Organic Pest Control (video)
- Organic Mosquito Control (video)
- How to Control Aphids in Your Garden (article)
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
This was always a fun game to play, and it reminds me of a green way to battle only not robots, but the fight against pests. Why scatter a ton of chemicals around your yard that’s equally toxic to humans when you can battle bug against bug. What I mean is using beneficial insects that are the natural enemy of unwanted pests.
A good example is the ladybug. Ladybugs feed on aphids and other bugs that are harmful to plants. Other bug busters include praying mantids, tiger beetles and lacewings. All of these insects are predatory, that means they find those other creepy-crawlers and knock their blocks off.
There are even companies who will ship these live insects directly to your door in sealed containers with specific instructions on how to put them to use. So forget about all those poisons and powders, it takes at least six legs to think mean and green!
Hello Danny Lipford,
I am looking for a Cedarburg Garden Club speaker who could do a 45 min. to 1 hour presentation on the use of Insect Predators to control garden pests or how to deal with animal predators that make gardening a challenge.
Do you know where I could find someone?
Hi, Carol,
We suggest contacting your local Master Gardeners association.
Master gardeners train on a range of topics so they can provide tailored advice, at no charge.
They’re the perfect fit for this type of speaking engagement!
Good luck!