September Gardening
We all know that there are good bugs and bad bugs in our gardens, and many of us are aware that getting rid of the bad bugs often means that you’re getting rid of the good ones too. Unfortunately, when you eliminate good bugs, it’s not uncommon to see the bad ones come back in even larger numbers without their natural predators to keep them in check.
To avoid this frustrating cycle, why not try inviting more of the good bugs to your garden and spending less time with the sprayer?
(This hoverfly is laying eggs next to a small but growing population of aphids.)
Many of our beneficial insects, like the ladybug, eat different things as adults than they do in their larval stage. As larvae, they often feed on pests (such as aphids), but as adults they get their nourishment from the nectar or pollen of their favorite plants. Making use of these plants in your garden increases the chances that beneficial insects will stick around when it’s time to lay their eggs.
(Hopefully, this ladybug is laying eggs that will hatch into hungry larvae.)
(This ladybug larvae has already eaten many insect pests, and will become an adult ladybug soon.)
High ranking on our list are herbs and native plants, as these are common beneficial insect attractors that won’t become invasive in the desert. Native plants are more likely to attract local bugs than imported plants are. Their big bonus is that they’re already adapted to our climate, so they often require less water, thrive in full sun, and tolerate our extreme heat and soil conditions better than non-natives. Herbs may require a bit more water and/or shade, but they’re useful enough in the garden (and the kitchen) to be worth the extra effort. Many herbs do double-duty as a beneficial insect attractor and a natural pest repellent at the same time!
This list of plants covers beneficial insects that eat pollen or nectar as adults, but keep in mind that less spraying makes your garden more available to other beneficial insects as well. Praying mantis and assassin bugs are just two examples of beneficial insects that can’t be attracted to your garden with pollen or nectar. However, woody plants that help shelter these insects from wind, rain, sun, and birds can help to keep them around your garden.
(Assassin bugs are often mistaken for the dreaded kissing bug, but this insect is harmless to people and beneficial in the garden.)
(When this egg sac hatches, lots of hungry baby mantids will be looking for aphids to eat.)
So, without further ado, here’s our list of the best plants for attracting beneficial insects to your garden, and keeping them there for generations (insect generations, that is)!
Plants that attract beneficial insects to your garden
Achillea filipendula (Fern-leaf Yarrow) – Lacewing, Ladybug, Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp
Achillea millefolium (Common Yarrow) – Ladybug, Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp
Alyssum saxatilis (Basket of Gold) – Ladybug, Hoverfly
Anethum graveolens (Dill) – Lacewing, Ladybug, Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp
Angelica gigas (Angelica) – Lacewing
*Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) – Ladybug, bonus because this is also a great nectar plant for adult butterflies (especially the Monarch).
*Atriplex canescens (Four-wing Saltbrush) – Lacewing, Ladybug, Hoverfly
*Callirhoe involucrata (Wine Cups) – Lacewing, Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp
Carum carvi (Caraway) – Lacewing, Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp, Minute Pirate Bug, Damsel Bug, Big-eyed Bug
Chrysanthemum parthenium (Feverfew) – Hoverfly
Coriandrum sativum (Coriander) – Lacewing, Ladybug, Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp
Cosmos bipinnatus (Cosmos) – Lacewing, Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp, Minute Pirate Bug, Damsel Bug, Big-eyed Bug
Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) – Lacewing, Ladybug, Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp, Minute Pirate Bug, Damsel Bug, Big-eyed Bug
Helianthus maximilianii (Sunflower) – Lacewing, Ladybug
Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender) – Hoverfly
Lobelia erinus (Lobelia) – Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp
Lobularia maritime (Sweet Alyssum) – Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp
Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) – Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp, Tachinid Fly
Mentha pulegium (Pennyroyal) – Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp, Tachinid Fly
Mentha spicata (Spearmint) – Hoverfly, Minute Pirate Bug, Damsel Bug, Big-eyed Bug
Petroselinium crispum (Parsley) – Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp, Tachinid Fly
Rudbeckia fulgida (Gloriosa Daisy) – Hoverfly
Sedum sp (Stonecrop) – Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp
Tagetes (Marigold) – Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp, Minute Pirate Bug, Damsel Bug, Big-eyed Bug
Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy) – Lacewing, Ladybug, Parasitic Wasp, Tachinid Fly
Veronica spicata (Spike Speedwell) – Ladybug, Hoverfly
Zinnia elegans (Zinnia) – Hoverfly, Parasitic Wasp
(* denotes native plants)
