3 Bugs You Might Want in Your Yard

When we think about having bugs in our yards, we tend to think of the most annoying, painful ones. Mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks seem to all serve the purpose of ruining good times and causing itchy, and sometimes deadly, problems. Hornets are just jerks. But the fact is, some bugs in our yards serve some very important purposes. These are 3 bugs your want in your Michigan yard or garden.

Soldier Beetle

There are a variety of different kinds of soldier beetles, but most should be considered welcome guests in your garden. The bugs of the Cantharidae family, more commonly known as solider beetles, are often found in the garden and help to protect and pollinate. In Mid-Michigan, the Goldenrod Soldier Beetle can be found in mid-to-late summer and fall. These handy beetles feast on nectar and pollen as adults, but the larvae actually help rid your yard of other bugs by eating the larvae and eggs of other insects. Other varieties of Solider Beetles enjoy eating aphids and are ideal for protecting marigolds, zinnias, and other plants that are often ravaged by aphids.

Hover Fly

Hover flies, also known as syraphid flies, are one of nature’s most clever imposters. These small flies share the black and gold coloring of bees and hornets, but these stinger-less bugs have an entirely more cheerful manner. Like bees, adult hover flies will eat pollen and nectar, but you can tell a hover fly from a bee (or hornet) by watching it fly. Hover flies are able to remain flying while not moving in a direction, while bees and hornets cannot. In addition to helping pollinate your yard, hover fly populations have the added benefit of helping to reduce aphid populations. Female hover flies will lay their eggs amongst an aphid population so that when the eggs hatch, they have a waiting snack in their aphid neighbors. Hover flies do have a tendency to swarm and put a damper on a good time so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on their population in your yard and control it, if needed.

Dragonfly

Dragonflies are part of the experience when you’re fishing in Michigan. Michigan has 162 species of odonata, the order that makes up both dragonflies and damsel flies. Dragonflies can benefit property owners by controlling the population of other flying insects like flies, gnats, and especially mosquitoes. Dragonflies are attracted to water and can be found near ponds, lakes, and marshy areas. In addition to being seen as a sign of goodluck in some cultures, dragonflies are expert predators. A single dragonfly can eat more than 100 mosquitoes in a day.

Not every insect or bug in your yard is a friend. Don’t let your outdoor space go unused because of pesky mosquitoes, ants or other nuisances. Mosquito One provides professional, targeted mosquito treatments sprays to your outdoor spaces allowing you to have an enjoyable, bug-free experience. Schedule your mosquito treatment online or contact us today to learn more!

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