Beneficial Bugs in Maine

Most people consider bugs annoying pests, and indeed most of them are at one time or another. However, some bugs are beneficial to your backyard or garden, especially in Maine, which is rich in deciduous forests, wildlife, and natural resources. Today, we’re going to highlight some of the most beneficial Maine bugs and explain why you’ll want to keep your backyard open to them this spring and summer.

Spiders

 Spiders have a bad reputation owing to movies like Arachnophobia and too much focus on the venomous, dangerous species. However, most spiders are not venomous, and those that are usually don’t carry enough poison to adversely affect humans. Spiders are predators, so they will kill bugs and other creatures that may damage your backyard, such as mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and others. They also help control the bee population. While bees are beneficial to a garden, too many will sap your flowers and shrubs dry and increase your risk of stings.

Most spiders build webs to trap their prey, but spiders are a diverse group with plenty of hunting methods. Jumping spiders and wolf spiders have great vision and can stalk prey from ground level. Crab spiders are great at unexpected ambushes.

Lacewings

 Lacewings are a lesser-known bug that appear in brown or green, with brown adult lacewings about half the size of green ones. These bugs are alligator-like with sickle-shaped jaws and are often found on plants with long stalks or stems. Lacewings are attracted to light and give off offensive odors if picked up or attacked.

Lacewings are not natural predators, but they do attack aphids and similar garden pests. For this reason, they’ve earned the nickname “aphid lions.” They’re also environmentally responsible, as they can be purchased in groups and used as an alternative to aphid-killing chemicals and sprays.

Lady Beetles

Also known as the common lady bug, these bugs are tougher than they may seem. While most are red, they also come in pink, yellow, or orange. Lady beetles can live as long as two or three years if they stay protected during winters, though their average life span is closer to eleven months. Lady beetle larvae hatch from tiny football-shaped eggs and are found on the edges of leaves or twigs.

These beetles usually feed on the mealybug. Like lacewings, lady beetles give off an odor if squashed or handled. To keep them out of your home, seal all cracks and crevices, but welcome them in your garden.

Hover Flies

 Also known as flower flies, these flies’ yellow abdomens resemble bees. However, they do not bite or sting. You can tell a flower fly from a bee or wasp because it has only two wings. Look for clear, green, or yellow larvae that resemble slugs, or tar-colored excrement around your plants. Flower flies often feast on aphids and adelgids. Attract them to your garden with plenty of pollen-filled flowers.

Praying Mantids

 A relative of, but not to be confused with, the praying mantis, these bugs have bulging eyes and a “praying” posture. Look for a bubbly brown egg mass around your plants to spot these creatures. They are your garden’s best friend when it comes to population control because they feed on honey bees, adelgids, aphids, and almost any other pest you could name.