Ladybugs are one of the most beloved beneficial insects in the garden, though most people, including many gardeners, only recognize adult ladybugs. That’s understandable — immature ladybugs look nothing like their adult forms — but it’s important to get to know ladybugs during all stages of their life cycle so beneficials aren’t confused for pests. […]
Beneficial insects that prey on pests can be a gardener’s best friend, but many of the predatory insects sold in stores and online are not the right choice for effective biological control. To clear up misconceptions about beneficial insects and explain the best way to get more in your garden to manage insect pests naturally, […]
When it comes to bees, everyone’s familiar with the iconic honeybee, but what many don’t realize is that honeybees are not native to North America. The 4,000 or so native bee species in the United States behave much differently than honeybee colonies and are generally not well understood. To educate us on the diversity of […]
Gardeners know the importance of attracting more pollinators to their yards, but there are other beneficial insects that don’t get the attention and the credit they deserve, namely predatory and parasitoid insects. To discuss the value of these vital insects and how to attract them to your garden, my guest this week is horticulturist and […]
Sometimes it’s the tiniest garden pests that cause the biggest problems. As responsible gardeners, we want to manage these pest issues while having as little negative impact as possible on the good bugs that visit the land that we steward. To share expert advice on responsible, effective pest control, my returning guest this week is […]
This week’s guest is Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, the Bug Lady of Bug Lady Consulting. To say that Suzanne – an entomologist and expert on biocontrol who I’ve known for many years and interviewed multiple times – is a wealth of information… well, that would be a true understatement. Our conversation is so jam-packed with pest management […]
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