Hopefully after reading the prior post, we are now working on suppressing the desire to stomp, squash, and screamwhen we cross paths with bugs and maybe even looking at welcoming beneficial bugs into our backyards.   There are two types of beneficial bugs that step it up beyond pollinating plants, predators and parasitoids.  Predators hunt and feed on pests while parasitoids lay eggs on or in prey that the hatched larvae then consume (creepy cool!).  Let’s spotlight 5 of these guardians of the garden.

Gross, grody, ewww, skivvy, icky, creepy, heebee jeebees…  all terms that I have heard describing bugs, often directly before or after the bug’s demise.  It happens… our instinctual response takes over.  My hope is that we can give these insects a little more thought, resist the urge to fight or take flight, and become fascinated with their unique and often beautiful qualities as well as their vast benefits to our gardens and beyond.