10 Misunderstood Insect Pests in Your Yard

Understanding Backyard Insect Pests

A lot of insects get a bad rap because they bite, swarm, skitter or are just generally creepy looking. But all of them play important roles in the ecosystems of our gardens and yards.

“Of the approximately 100,000 species of insects known in the United States, less than one percent are considered pest species,” says Thomas Dobrinska, a board certified entomologist with Western Exterminator.

“Furthermore, of the one percent, these pest species are only considered as such if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. In most cases, many of these insects we consider pests are actually benefiting us in ways that we cannot see or comprehend.”

What Are The Benefits of ‘Pests’?

While their full significance to our ecosystem is sometimes unknown and often unappreciated, Bernie Holst III, CEO of Horizon Pest Control in Midland Park, New Jersey, says the value of many so-called pests can be divided into five large categories.

• Pollination: Bees and butterflies get most of credit, but many other insects help pollinate our plants as well, including wasps, ants, moths, flies and midges.
• Pest control: Many insects feed on beetles, ladybugs, dragon flies and parasitic wasps. “Praying mantises also eat other insects, and their camouflage is amazing,” says Holst.
• Food supply: “Insects are a food source for the birds and animals we enjoy seeing in our yards, and when hiking or walking,” says Holst.
• Decomposition: Insects like termites, beetles and flies help organic materials decompose. “Termites are also highly social and very good at what they do,” says Holst.
• Awe: Observing insects of all sorts opens our curiosity and deepens our connection to the natural world. “Insects, like butterflies and moths, are truly one of Mother Nature’s masterpieces, and to see them in a garden can significantly add to one’s experience and enjoyment,” Holst says.

Mary Phillips, head of Garden for Wildlife, says “bad reputations can be hard to overcome.” But, she adds, some of our biggest pests are actually helpful. “And by planting a diverse garden of native plants, you’ll attract an array of wildlife that will naturally keep balance in the garden, without spraying toxic pesticides,” she says.

Here are some of the most misunderstood backyard pests.

Ants

Ants are superheroes for keeping nature running smoothly. They eat other insects, aerate soil, carry seeds to help plants disperse into new areas and break down organic matter.

“By carrying pieces of animal and plant remains underground, they fertilize the soil and recycle nutrients through the world’s ecosystems,” says Dobrinska. Adds Phillips: “These tiny actions make a huge difference, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and irrigation.”

Holst says ants are also just really interesting. “They’re organized, social, they farm, they herd aphids, they practice teamwork and help pollinate,” Keep them out of our home by sealing small cracks and holes, especially around utility lines.