The Most Misunderstood

We’ve all seen something in our gardens that have made us recoil in disgust or even fear. Usually something that buzzes or has a few too many legs for comfort. And while I can agree, I don’t really want these freaky bugs on me, I‘m actually thrilled to see them roaming my flowerbeds. Certain bugs get a bad rep; and while they can deserve some wariness from humans, they help us more than most people know.

Things that sting

Likely on everyone’s “Bug’s I’m Scared Of” list is the group to which the buzzing and stinging insects belong. Bees, hornets, Yellowjackets, and wasps definitely call for caution, but when left alone they are outrageously beneficial.

Campaigns to save the bees have taken a lot of the fear away from encounters with these bugs. Not to mention, their fluffy steps lend a certain cuteness that their other stinging counterparts lack. However, some wasps, such as the Mud Dauber, are surprisingly docile. Paper Wasps, well, they can be a bit more aggressive. Steer clear of the territory around their nests if possible, and don’t try to smack or swat them, and they will almost always leave you be. They’re much more interested in finding food, and lucky for us, they love to eat the pests we hate. Larger wasps will carry off entire caterpillars, and small parasitic wasps can wipe out entire colonies of aphids. All that buzzing around plants while they hunt helps pollinate as well. Give them space, and they’ll keep your pest populations low and your plants pollinated.

Arachnophobia

Too many legs, too many eyes, and I don’t like the way they move! But I love what spiders can do in the garden. They are the absolute best critters for plant pest control - a single spider can catch and eat over 2,000 bugs in a year! Any small to medium plant-wrecking pest is on the menu for these expert bug catchers. What they aren’t interested in, however, are humans.

It is exceedingly rare to find a venomous spider anywhere in New England. Occasionally a black widow may creep up from further south, but all in all, it’s very unlikely. But most spiders will bite, and we have some that can really hurt. A Wolf Spider bite is a very unpleasant surprise when one has taken up residence in your gardening glove (now I always double check!), but even here rather aggressive hunter spiders would rather save their bite for prey than a person. Spiders bite humans out of defense. They may be protecting eggs, but more often they’re trying to protect themselves. You can imagine that any little critter’s biggest fear is probably getting squished. So, when you put pressure on a spider, it will bite. Even the pressure of a spider being caught between a layer of fabric and skin is enough to cause it to defend itself. Give them space, check the gloves you left out in the garage before putting them on, and watch your pest population disappear!

The creepiest crawlies

Oh no, even more legs. Our last bug on the list does look like an escaped nightmare, but they’ve got some good in them too. Centipedes are another voracious predator and a very welcome garden guest. While the wasps hunt above and the spiders prowl the grounds, centipedes are underneath it all, stopping pest bugs before they even get started.

These weird little things live in the dark and in moist soil, and they love snacking on the larva of insects that would otherwise grow up to ruin your plants. Even baby slugs and snails are on the list. Not only that, the smaller centipedes go after soil-dwelling mites that can disrupt soil health. The centipedes native to our area are usually small and not dangerous. They are unlikely to bite a human and have weak jaws in any case. They want to be in the dark and in the dirt. So, if you see one, simply wait a moment and it will likely disappear back into the mulch. Trying to poke at, pick up, or squish a centipede can certainly inspire them to give biting you a good try. Let them skitter back underground and be happy to know that they’re on patrol, getting rid of pests well before they can start to ruin your plants.

There are many more strange and beneficial bugs out there that may be visiting your garden. Keep an eye out and you’re likely to discover some truly weird and fascinating things. A variety of wasps and spiders in different colors and patterns, freaky centipedes and their slightly less unsettling millipede cousins, even things like praying mantises, assassin bugs, and hummingbird moths. All of them play crucial roles in our backyard environments and the larger ecosystem around us. Some might be prettier to look at and less bite than the ones on this list, but they’re here to help and we wouldn’t get by without them. So take moment to see what natural pest control you might already have, and enjoy the weird and wonderful world of bugs in your own backyard!