Hey everyone! In this week's post, we will explore the tiny environment of bugs; specifically beneficial bugs for your garden. When you mention bugs to people some state "Ew absolutely not!", some state "Ugh, aren't they amazing!", and others say "I love them from a distance!". We are going to explore the beneficial bugs that create a habitat in your backyard and gardens. Most everyone would immediately go towards Honey Bees which are extremely beneficial but we are going to look at others that may not be thought of.

To start we are going to look at Lady Bugs. Despite their name, they aren't true bugs but instead beetles. To determine an insect as a true bug, they must have piercing mouthparts that enable them to suck up their meals, they don't have chewing mouthparts. Lady bugs are also known as Ladybird Beetles. There are 5,000 different species but we are going to be focusing on the the Lady Bugs that are in Missouri. They are scarlet red with seven black spots, three on each side and one in the middle. With the bright coloring, it tells other predators "Don't touch me! I don't taste good!". There are many look a likes such as the Asian Lady Beetle. If you can't tell the difference look for the 7 black spots! Lady Bugs can live anywhere from two to three years and can eat up to 5,000 insects in their lifetime and as many as forty per hour. As larvae and within their juvenile stages, they primarily eat aphids and other insects that can damage plants and crops.

Next, let's take a look at Green Lacewings. This beneficial bug as an adult feeds on nectar, pollen, and honeydew. However, as larvae, they will eat soft-bodied insects such as aphids, thrips, whiteflies, leaf hoppers, spider mites, and mealy bugs. There are as many as 1,300-2,000 species across 85 genera. They prefer to live in grassy areas, weedy roadsides, and shrubs and usually come out at sunset. Due to them being nocturnal, they are attracted to lights similar to moths. Due to the larvae eating aphids, the adult females will lay eggs under leaves right in the middle of aphid communities! Due to the predatory nature of these bugs, they are extremely beneficial!

Now onto our next beneficial bug the Praying Mantis. There is a lot of debate on whether it's beneficial or harmful due to them not discriminating on their meals. They are carnivorous insects and even eat other mantids! Missouri is host to several varieties that are native and non-native including the Carolina Mantis (native), Chinese Mantis (non-native), and European Mantis (non-native). They are ambush predators and will sit and wait until the prime victim comes along and will silently stalk them until they attack. They live in open, highly vegetative areas including gardens, fields, pastures, and woodland borders.

The next bug we are looking at this week is the Soldier Beetle. There are a whopping 5,000 species in North America. These bugs are incredibly beneficial as they are pollinators. They are most active during the day flying from flower to flower; primarily goldenrod and sunflower varieties. During the spring, late summer, and fall, they are most active and can be found. Larvae can be found in leaf litter, loose bark, and under rocks. In the fall most individuals will rake leaves, package them up, or burn them as they are an eyesore in the yard. However, if you can refrain from doing this, this beneficial bug will be able to thrive. As larvae, they eat aphids, maggots, earworms, and borer bugs. As adults, they eat nectar and pollen.

Next, let's take a look at Assassin Bugs. I understand that name sounds terrifying and they even look terrifying but they are so helpful for a garden! There are 200 species in North America and primarily live in trees, gardens, grassy areas, and just about everywhere. Assassin Bugs are carnivorous and will overcome their prey by stabbing them with their piercing mouthpart and injecting venom that liquifies the tissue and allows them to suck it up. Terrifying right? However, they consume any pests that plague your garden. Due to them not discriminating against their prey, they are heavily discussed as being beneficial or not similar to the Praying Mantis. If you come across these bugs, use caution as they won't intentionally bite you but will if threatened and the bite is extremely painful. That's coming from personal experience!

Last, but not least, let's take a look at the most common bug that's thought of when we think of beneficial bugs; the Honeybee! Did you know that the Honeybee is the official state insect for Missouri? However, they aren't native to North America and were brought here to help pollinate crops and plants in the 1600s. Honeybees flit from flower to flower carrying pollen in basket-like structures on their legs and in turn pollinate the flowers. One way to identify Honeybees from other bees is to look at their eyes; they have hair on their eyes! Another interesting fact about Honeybees is that all the workers are female! Humans benefit from Honeybees whether they know it or not as they are responsible for 1/3 of our food supply due to their pollinating efforts. However, not all plants benefit from Honeybees. When talking about our nightshade plants (e.g., tomatoes, peppers, potatoes) those plants need Bumblebees. The reason is, that the Bumble Bees' wings will beat at a specific frequency that makes the nightshades release their pollen.
No matter how you feel about bugs, I hope this post was informational and eye-opening to the bugs that may be found in your garden. Of course, there are many other bugs that are beneficial and this is just a small fragment. Be cautious when looking at bugs in person as some may be harmful if handled wrong but go out and look for these beneficial bugs! Until next time...

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