Beneficial Bugs: Not All Insects Are Pests

Plant it and they will come—bugs by the hundreds. But don’t shriek, they may be friendly. Let’s meet the white hats of the insect world.

The first step is to nurture the good bugs that are already in the garden. Amanda Schulte/Shutterstock

Chances are, there are more good insects in the garden at present than bad ones.

Insects are needed to properly pollinate fruits and vegetables, and to burrow through and aerate the soil so plant roots can get sufficient air, water, and fertilizer. Some bugs feed on weed seeds to keep those populations lower than they would be otherwise, while others devour dead plant matter, dung, and compost. Still others act as food sources for birds.