Insects - for both benefit and trouble in cultivation

Ladybugs are a part of a functioning garden and are often used in commercial berry and fruit cultivation to control pest insects, but sometimes - when food sources are limited - they can also become a problem. In that case, they switch to eating live plants, even though they actually prefer something else like insects and fallen fruit. When they create holes in leaves, plants weaken and become more susceptible to fungal diseases, for example.

Pests have unique characteristics, Pests are interesting little animals, and they are also unique in the insect world - they actually have maternal instincts. The female carefully cares for her eggs by turning and grooming them, and she takes care of her newly hatched offspring. The young nymphs eat plant parts, mites, aphids, and small insects. Together with adult earwigs, they are very useful, especially in compost, where they help with decomposition. But earwigs cannot distinguish between wild plants and the ones we want to protect in the garden. Therefore, they sometimes venture onto plants like tomatoes, potatoes, Swiss chard, and dahlia tubers. The latter has proven to be one of their favorites. If earwigs become too much of a problem, there are methods to try to reduce their numbers. But do not kill them. It is much better to try to relocate the earwigs or deter them from the plants or area you want to protect.

Get rid of the earwigs - reduce their habitatEarwigs do not like overly tidy gardens, but prefer moist compost, garden waste and dense vegetation - just like most other insects.During the day, they often hide in dark and damp places, such as openings and crevices, mailboxes or in slightly damp clothes on the washing line.If you have major problems with earwigs in a greenhouse or in a specific part of the garden, it may be worth checking if it is possible to reduce moist, dark places where they can hide. Lift up the flowerpots, clean up and avoid having tarps and other waste lying in a corner providing damp, enticing hiding spots.

Set out moist traps,One way to reduce the number of silverfish is to set up various types of traps. For example, you can roll up a moist newspaper or piece of cardboard and place it where they usually reside. During the day, the silverfish crawl into the damp material, and you can easily pick up the trap and place it in a better location – maybe up in the apple tree, where they can help control pest insects?,You can also fill jars with moistened cloth, paper or damp plant material and place them on their sides in the flower bed. Don't forget to empty them.

Deterrent with barriers, One method to deter pests in a friendly but firm way is to build barriers. For example, you can pour lime on double-sided tape and place it around the plant or garden area. Pests do not like to cross this barrier, and as a bonus, it also helps against slugs. Home remedies like using white pepper and garlic are considered to be effective. You can mix it with water and spray it on extra vulnerable plants. White pepper can also be sprinkled in the bottom of the mailbox if you have many pests there. Peppermint oil can also work to prevent pests from smelling their favorite plant.

Don't forget that lacewings are beneficial insects. Regardless of the method you use to reduce lacewing attacks, remember that lacewings are primarily beneficial insects. A single lacewing can eat thousands of aphids throughout the summer, thus preventing many larger aphid attacks. Therefore, it is wise to act with a little consideration, and only if there is a real need for action. Perhaps you will discover that you have too few lacewings, and that you want them to thrive rather than remove them, for example by providing a moist habitat among the pears where they can catch pear aphids.

WRITTEN BY Liselotte Roll, Swedish garden inspirator, journalist, and author of books about nature, cultivation, and animals, such as "Soil", "Cultivating for Insects", and "Chickens as a Hobby".