All creatures in this world serve an ecological purpose. Researchers from the University of Exeter detail that even the minuscule ant plays a vital role in ensuring the survival of their local environment. This is why we’ve put together a list of five insects, some of which are considered pests that contribute to the overall wellbeing of your plants. Read on to know more about these insects and what they can do for your garden!
Spiders

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They are in fact great for your garden as spiders prey on insects such as aphids, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. These insects can potentially harm the plants growing in your garden and the misunderstood spider acts as a natural deterrent.
Wasps

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However, it’s important to remember that all creatures serve a purpose, even the most annoying ones. A guide by HomeServe on how to deal with wasps outlines how they are fond of sweet substances, making them perfect pollinators. In fact, a world without wasps would be catastrophic for the ecosystem. The Independent highlights how crucial wasps are as pollinators, often serving the same purpose as bees, but without any of the credit.
Ground Beetle

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Ground beetles prey on caterpillars, fly maggots, and slugs. To add to this, they live relatively long with a lifespan of four years. This coupled with their penchant for eating pests means a sustainable means of reducing the number of overall pests in your garden.
Earthworms

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Not to mention that making your own compost means less waste gets dumped into landfills. And considering that organic material makes up a significant chunk of landfill waste, this will go a long way in reducing your overall impact on the environment.
Ladybirds

Image credit: [Wikipedia]
Similar to the spider, ladybirds prey on many garden pests. Despite their size, one ladybug can consume up to fifty to sixty aphids per day. They are also known to eat mealworms and mites that can cause major problems if left unattended. Think of these tiny insects as a natural (and more aesthetically pleasing) form of pest control.
If you found this article useful and are looking for more ways to improve your garden, check out our article on 25 Inspiring Urban Gardening Ideas!

Michael has been involved with gardening and plants since he was just five years old. He is a self-professed Plant Geek, and was listed in the Sunday Times top 20 most influential people in the gardening world, thanks to his plant hunter role at Thompson & Morgan.
Michael was responsible for new plant introductions such as the Egg and Chips plant and the FuchsiaBerry and keeps busy travelling the world in search of new plants as well as lecturing worldwide, including stints in Japan. He is very active on social media – so why not give him a follow at @mr_plantgeek or Facebook. You can also listen to The Plant Based Podcast with Michael and co-host Ellen-Mary on iTunes, Spotify and Google.