Double Flowers: Bad News for Pollinators
Gardeners love double flowers. And why not? With their dense flowers jam-packed with petals, they really do stand out fromContinue Reading
Category: Beneficial insects
Gentle Ladybugs are Actually Cannibals
The ladybug or ladybird is the perfect insect to help teach children to respect nature. After all, ladybugs are cuteContinue Reading
Not All Insects Are Harmful
Many beginner gardeners panic at the sight of the least insect. A common attitude is “Quick! Where is the mostContinue Reading
Bugs that Jump When You Water
You’re watering a houseplant when you notice something very tiny, possibly whitish or gray, that springs up into the airContinue Reading
A Carnivorous Butterfly
Most caterpillars (butterfly larvae) are vegetarian: they eat plants of one species or another (each caterpillar species has its preferences)…Continue Reading
Wasps: Aggressive But Beneficial
If you get the impression you’re seeing more social wasps (yellow jackets, paper wasps, and hornets) in your gardenContinue Reading
What to Do About Sand Wasps?
Everyone recognizes social wasps (yellow jackets and hornets), the ones that live in colonies underground or in paper nest andContinue Reading
Plants that Attract Beneficial Insects
Most beneficial insects use flowers as a food source for at least part of their cycle, or are simply attractedContinue Reading
Learning to Live with Earwigs
Most North American gardeners see earwigs (Forficula auricularia) as an enemy. But in fact, they are more likely to beContinue Reading
Ground Beetles “Don’t Get No Respect”
Some insects really don’t get the respect they deserve and one of those is the ground beetle. This terrestrial beetleContinue Reading