Aphids, ants, grubs, and earwigs are not only creepy-crawlies but they can wreak havoc on your garden and new plants. But fear not! You don't need dangerous chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides to enjoy a lively, healthy garden. The secret? More lady beetles, fewer aphids! Wildlife in your garden-especially insects-can be natural pesticide alternatives, they can pollenate plants, they can contribute important nutrients to the soil, and sometimes they're simply beautiful to look at.
Good Garden Bugs will discuss how to attract them, how to preserve the natural habitats they need, and how to work with them to grow and enjoy your garden. Yes, you can order a lot of ladybugs (for example) in the mail, but it's a more effective, long-term solution if you attract them with the right environment! Good Garden Bugs is an easy-to-follow reference to natural, non-harmful ways for your gardens to grow full and bountiful.
Margaret Gardiner is an assistant professor of entomology and extension school instructor at Ohio State University. As such, she works not only with undergraduate and graduate students, but with hundreds of backyard gardeners, community gardeners, and small farmers to teach them about working with beneficial insects to improve their crops. Her specialty is beneficial insects, and she is the go-to expert on them, having been quoted on them in such non-academic publications as Mother Earth News and the Columbus Dispatch. She is also a well-respected researcher and very connected in the entomology community.