June 4, 2010, Newsletter Issue #447: Beneficial Garden Insects

Tip of the Week

Planting to attract beneficial insects is one of the simplest ways to invite them into your yard. The easiest way to do this is to purchase a package of seeds designed to attract beneficial insects. Another way is to do your research and find out what types of plants each insect prefers.
 
If you are making a planting specifically for beneficial insects think about where you are going to put it. Look for an area where the plants could be allowed to go to seed and left stand throughout the winter. This will give the eggs the beneficial insects lay the best chance of survival.
 
Plants such as asters, daisies and goldenrods are excellent sources of nectar for beneficial insects. Mint, fennel and dill are just a few of the herbs that attract beneficial insects.
 
The seven best plants to grow in your garden to attract beneficial insects are Centaurea cyanus, commonly known as Bachelor's Buttons, Lobularia maritima commonly known as Sweet Alyssum, Borago officinalis commonly known as Borage, Silphium perfoliatum commonly known as Cup Plant, Agastache foeniculum commonly known as Anise Hyssop, Anthemis tinctoria commonly known as Golden Marguerite and Foeniculum vulgare commonly known as Fennel.
 
Bachelor's Buttons is an old timecottage garden plant that many people still grow in their garden today. The seeds can be direct sown in early spring. It is an annual that sometimes re-seeds. This plant attracts flower flies, ladybugs, lacewings, and beneficial wasps. The best part is the beneficial insects can get nectar from the leaves on this plant, so it serves a purpose even when it is not in bloom.
 
Sweet Alyssum is known for attracting flower flies which feed on aphids. It is a quick growing ground cover that not only helps smother weeds but is highly fragrant. In some climates it will re-seed.
 
Borage is an edible herb with beautiful blue star shaped flowers, but use some caution as too much of this plant for human consumption is not a good thing. It can be deadly in fact. For beneficial insects, especially green lacewings, borage is the plant to have. Studies in Switzerland have shown that as many as 100 beneficial insects can be found in just one square foot of borage plants. If you must choose just one plant to grow to attract beneficial insects, pick Borage.
 
The advantage of growing Cup Plant in your garden is because the leaves wrap around the plant in such a way that a natural water reservoir is made. This gives both birds and beneficial insects an easy source of water in the garden and best of all nature will maintain this source so it will be less work for you.
 
In addition to the licorice scented leaves, Anise Hyssop has flowers that are very rich in nectar making this plant attractive to butterflies and beneficial insects.
 
Attract ladybugs, lacewings, flower flies, tachinid flies and mini-wasps to your garden by planting Golden Marguerite. This plant grows well in poor soils. To get the maximum amount of flowers be sure to keep this plant deadheaded.
 
Besides being a host plant to the Anise Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar, Fennel flowers are known to attract a wide variety of nectar eating beneficial insects. The leaves, seeds and bulb of the plant are edible. Fennel has ferny like foliage in green or bronze so it is an attractive plant to grow in your garden.
 
If you are wondering what a beneficial insect garden may look like, be sure to view this short clip on beneficial insect gardens - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjly6GoS_ng

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