It is easy to become freaked out by insects and other creepy crawlies. As pretty as they can be (think butterflies and ladybirds), they can also be most infuriating (mosquitoes), destructive (Japanese beetles), and sometimes just gross (slugs)!

That said, they all deserve a little understanding, and you might even find that they are all quite fascinating in their own ways!

Many insects and their cohorts, as pesky as they can seem, can be a mega bonus to your garden and the environment as a whole. Before flipping out at the sight of one of these critters, take a moment to learn a little about where they are coming from and what they are all about.

These OGP articles might just have you changing your mind a little.

1. Bug Friends

That initial appalling reaction that happens when we spot a six-legged creature on the leaf of our cucumber vine needs to change. Instead, we should start considering whether this insect is a friend or an adversary to our food production. Also, we need to realize that both are required for a healthy ecosystem, which ultimately will translate into more nutrient-dense food grown more easily. With this in mind, let’s meet some of our best allies in the garden. Here is a list of 13 Insects You Want to See in Your Garden.

2. Help the Bees

By now, the majority of the population knows that something is up with bees. We know that we need to be saving them … leading most to understand that bees are in some sort of danger. That guess, of course, is correct, and indeed, the honeybees in the USA, as they have in other countries, are disappearing in mass quantities. The call for help is now spreading wide and far, so as concerned citizens of the world, and fans of vegetables and fruits (most of which are pollinated by bees), we can take it upon ourselves to do something for the bees. If you want to help, check out these 4 Easy Ways to Help Bees From Home.

3. Garden Pest Control

There are many options for going about this: companion planting, crop rotation, and DIY pest repellents. But, one of the best ways to control garden pests is by inviting their predators to the party. Though many One Green Planet readers are plant-based eaters, the same cannot be said for the entirety of the animal kingdom. Nature designed some animals to survive by eating other animals, and the ecology goes round and round. For gardeners looking to do things organically, and hoping to tap into biodiversity, these are very handy animals to have around in terms of pest control. Learn about these Animals and Insects That Help Control Garden Pests.

4. Beneficial Bugs

The fact of the matter is that predatory insects play a huge role in controlling pests, and because it is a naturally-balanced system, not a bug-free one, that we are after, we must foster our relationship with insects in the garden. Since we want to eat those squashes and carrots, we are probably better off attracting carnivores rather than vegetarians. The other important thing to remember is that, with all those flowering fruits and vegetables, we are going to need a fleet of pollinators to get to the result we are after: food. There are lots of insects that specialize in pollinating plants, so those should also be invited to this season’s garden party. Read on to learn all about these 8 Insects That Are Beneficial in the Garden.

5. Attract Bees

The world’s bees are in serious trouble. They are disappearing by the colony and, without them, the world is somewhat doomed. Bees pollinate quite a large percentage of the plant-based food we eat. Thankfully, there is a grassroots effort to help bees by providing hives and diverse, flowering plants from which they can collect pollen. Some of these plants could be ornamental, but some should be food-producing. After all, we need bees in the vegetable garden. Luckily, if we plant the right stuff to get them there, the results are almost inevitable: bees will be saved, and we’ll keep eating. If you have a bit of space to plant a little something, this article will guide you as to What You Should Plant to Attract Bees to Your Vegetable Patch.

6. Gather Round, Beneficial Bugs

Gardens of all descriptions are full of creepy crawlies, flying bugs, and slimy, slithering creatures. As a gardener, it can be quite overwhelming to find your precious and prized plant covered in life forms that seem to be taking over. However, as a gardener, it is vitally important to be able to distinguish between the bugs that are decimating your flowers and veggies and the ones that you could quite well consider your best friends. Many insects in the garden are incredibly important to the health of the microclimate you have created in your garden. As well, they are essential players in the health of our ecosystems as a whole. Learn more about these 5 Beneficial Bugs in Your Garden and How to Attract Them.

7. Butterfly Milkweed

Anyone in tune with the importance of pollinators and their plight will likely have heard about the value of milkweed (Asclepias spp). Land development and the use of certain pesticides have resulted in habitat loss for several significant pollinators, not least the noble monarch butterfly. With milkweed being the sole plant that monarch butterflies will lay their eggs on, its decline is proving to be problematic for this species of butterfly. Milkweed grows in the wild across the USA in different varieties, so there will likely be a species that will grow well or is native to your area. If you have a little corner of your yard that could Support a pollination garden, read this to learn How to Grow Milkweed and Why You Should.

8. Bees and Trees

With our attention turned to pandemics and politics, it’s easy to overlook the plight of our oft-misunderstood natural allies. For years we wasted time fearing bees when we should have been fostering our relationship. More so than bastions of sting, the bees are the signature species for pollination, and plants and animals alike depend precariously upon their success. Unfortunately, with the spread of urbanization and the monoculture revolution in food production, the bees have suffered greatly. The natural order upon which they relied—plenty of flowering plants that provide blooms throughout the year—has been distorted. Consequently, Apis species have struggled mightily of late, so our job has become to reinstitute an ecosystem that can Support them. Here is a list of 12 Trees Loved by Bees that maybe you could plant in your yard.

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