If you ask somebody if they like bugs, I'm sure the answer will be no. Mosquito bites are itchy. Wasp stings hurt. Cockroaches are gross. But did you know that some insects aren't as troublesome as you think? Think again before you try to kill that pesky insect.
Earthworms don't look so nice as they squirm through the garden. But they are beneficial in lots of different ways. Firstly, they devour dead leaves, roots, and other dead parts of plants. By doing this, they clean your garden for you! Their waste then gives nutrients to the soil and helps new plants grow. When they die, their bodies go into the soil and give even more nutrients.
Secondly, they aerate the soil. Because they dig through the soil, they create lots of holes. These holes mean that more air can pass through the soil. This makes it healthier for plants. It also creates good drainage as water can leave the soil.
It may be hard to convince some people that spiders have their benefits. But they are one of the best bugs to have in the garden. Spiders are harmless, and they kill lots of pests in the garden. They eat mosquitoes, ants, and flies. They can get into the little snags and find all the little hiding critters.
Butterflies look beautiful as they flutter through your garden. But that's not all they are good for. They fly from flower to flower, pollinating. They take pollen from one flower and pass it to another. This allows the plants to reproduce.
Bees are master pollinators. Some bees spend their entire lives collecting pollen. It contains a protein that they feed to their babies. But as they take the pollen, they spread it around.
Some people are scared of bees. Their sting might be painful, but they are harmless. Bees only sting if they feel threatened.
We are losing bees fast. Bees pollinate lots of the food that we eat. Without bees, we would have a big problem. Scientists are doing what they can to keep bees alive. We can help by using fewer chemicals. We can help by putting bee gardens in our gardens.
So maybe that insect in your garden isn't your foe. If you want a nice garden, it could be your best friend. Just hope they aren't daring enough to sneak into the house!
Give that insect a chance next time you see it in your garden. It might be trying to help. Remember, it is more scared of you than you are of it.