By Amanda Rose Newton

The end of the year signals cooler temperatures, relaxation and time to plan our edible landscapes. For those who are green thumbs, seeing a ladybug is not just a token of luck, but also good news for your garden. Ladybugs, especially in their larval stage, are known for their ability to take down an aphid army in a single day and have quickly developed a reputation as a gardener’s best friend. 

Lucky for us, ladybugs are not the only insects out there patrolling for pests, and by choosing specific plants, you can attract all kinds of allies to your garden. 

Here are a few of our favorite fauna and the flora that encourages them to stick around:

Ladybugs

If there was a “panda bear” of the insect world, these would be it! Even self-proclaimed “bug haters” love the cute spotted beetle. It is no surprise they have become the poster bug for beneficial insects. As mentioned above, they are known for their love of aphids, but will also happily munch on fleas and whiteflies. However, they are not likely to stay in one place for very long outside of an enclosed setting, and it can be tough to keep them where you would like. There are a few plants that they prefer, which might help you entice them to stay a little longer. These plants are also known to attract some of the same pests they enjoy consuming. Dill, yarrow and dandelion are all known to be liked by ladybugs as refuge. 

Praying Mantis

The praying mantis is another classic in heavy rotation in the beneficial insect market. Like the ladybug, it has a broad interest with pests it prefers but doesn’t always stay where you might want it to. Just a few of the many insects they will eat include caterpillars, moth larva, beetle larva and crickets. To attract more praying mantises to your yard, consider adding tall grasses and shrubs to your landscape. They use the foliage for harborage and for depositing their ootheca (egg sacks) that can contain thousands of babies. 

Green Lacewings

Perhaps the most underrated beneficial bug by far, the lacewing larval form (also known as an antlion) is extremely proficient at aphid hunting! Unfortunately, it is not as endearing as a ladybug, so it has not yet reached that level of stardom. They prey on aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs and caterpillars with great gusto and are more likely to stay around after finishing the job. If you would like to attract lacewings, they are fond of the smell of many herbs, including dill, coriander and dandelion.

Hover Flies

These bee mimics pollinate flowers as adults and the larva have been known to feed on aphids, scale and caterpillars. With those beaming qualities, attracting them to your yard should be a priority! Like many on the list, strong smelling plants like dill, parsley and fennel will keep these bee look-a-likes around all season. 

Braconid Wasps

For those hesitant to sing the praises of wasps, I invite you to look at the work being performed by this parasitic species. They specifically target caterpillar pests such as hornworms, boring insect larvae and even true bugs like aphids! Most species lay eggs within the soft-bodied pests, which will later hatch into larvae that will consume their prey from the inside out! If the horror movie antics of the parasitic wasps didn’t scare you away, you can attract them to your yard by planting strong-smelling herbs like dill, lemon balm and parsley.

Amanda Rose Newton holds degrees in Horticulture, Biochemistry, Entomology, and is currently finishing her PhD in STEM Education. Currently, she is a professor of Horticulture at Eastern Florida State College, Education Specialist at Rockledge Gardens, and all around insect enthusiast. When not working, she spends several weeks a year volunteering for USAIDs Farmer to Farmer program, promoting positive change in food security worldwide.

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