Bugs and pests may be the most annoying creatures ever to exist. They are such a bother that the mere vanquishing of them has created a billion-dollar industry that keeps flourishing each year with various chemicals and techniques invented each day to ensure that mankind is free from these pests. The question is, are they all so bad? And if they are not good for humans, as the saying goes “one man’s meat is another man’s poison” can they not be useful in other ways? The fact is most pests may be considered insects but not all insects are considered pests. The reason is that pests are destructive insects that prey on plants but insects are just animals that may not necessarily be destructive to plants. In effect, what may be a pest to humans can in actuality be very good for plants. This article is to shine a bright light on some insects and how they greatly benefit plants.
Bees and Wasps: these two though very identical are from different families with almost the same mandate and effect on plants. It is a known fact that pollination is very important to plants because that is how seeds are dispersed for the continued re-population of plants thus bees and wasps who are massive pollinators of plants are very important supporters of bio-diversity. Aside from this very important role they play, they also assist in getting rid of harmful insects or pests that may harm plants. Wasps especially, do this by attacking these harmful pests and rendering them immobile; while their prey is still alive but immobile, they lay their eggs either in or on the prey. They do this so when the eggs get to the larvae stage, the larvae can then have something to munch on till it develops into hatchlings. This way, the hatchlings won’t devour themselves out of hunger. Wasps are nature’s very own pesticide.
Earthworms: they are nature’s very own gardeners and are considered to play a major role with the insect family to keep plants healthy. They seem like a nuisance to plants and humans but through their movement beneath the surface of the soil, they can improve the structure of the soil. When soil is constantly watered or being rained upon, it hardens with time; that’s why most gardeners engage in tilling to loosen the soil for cultivation. Earthworms through their movement cause a better drainage system which also improves air and water circulation. Earthworms feed on leaves and grass to produce excrement called “vermicast” which is rich in potassium nitrate, microbes and a lot of other soil nutrients; this provides natural fertilizer for the soil.
Praying Mantis: these insects are nature’s very own exterminators. Their carnivorous nature puts them at an advantage but also a disadvantage. On one hand, the praying mantis feeds on all pests posing problems to plants; this gets rid of these harmful insects without the use of any artificial pesticide. They exterminate without posing fear that the mantis may devour the plants because they only eat other insects. On the other hand, good insects like bees and butterflies that are massive pollinators should be kept from the praying mantis because they eat any insect in their part hence the nickname “nature’s exterminators”
Assassin Bugs: this type of insect is mostly shaped like almost every bug but these assassins have a long beak which they use to impale their prey and secrete enzymes which then liquefies the insides of their prey. After the vinification process takes place, these bugs use the same beaks they used to impale their prey to suck out the insides of the prey leaving only a shell of their body. This is very common in-home gardens, especially where insects are mostly seen hollowed out. This activity by the assassin bugs leaves lots of hollowed-out carcasses of insects which decompose into organic matter and then mix with the soil to make it more fertile. Aside from this, the most important aspect of the activities of the assassin bug is role of controlling pests. Their diet benefit plants a lot because they get rid of all pests.
To draw the curtains, insects are a huge bother to humans but they can be both helpful and harmful to plants; knowing which ones to keep a blind eye to can go a long way to make your plants flourish. Some insects provide organic matter, improve soil structure, act as natural pesticides among others. For farmers who are farming organically, they can substitute pesticides for carnivorous creatures like the praying mantis and assassin bug to do the job efficiently while trusting wasps, earthworms and bees to pollinate, disperse seeds and enrich the soil for plants to thrive. So next time you try to kill insects in your garden, check to make sure if they are useful to your plants or not, if they are of no use to your plant, instead of using pesticide you can introduce a predator insect to exterminate them. This will protect your plants while their carcasses become a great addition to your soil.
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