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Post by daylilydude on Dec 10, 2016 6:11:05 GMT -5
This thread is all about insects...yes, I know animals like spiders and snails are not insects, but I wanted to keep the title short. I am curious as to what insects you categorize as friends and what you categorize as foes.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 10, 2016 8:00:14 GMT -5
Okay, I voted. However, it's not a true indication and here's why. Moths can be pollinators. But some moths are also a life stage form of something that is devastating to your garden, such as a squash vine borer. Not sure if that "moth" is an actual moth in the true sense, but it is referred to as a moth.
The same with Lady Bugs. They are a Beneficial Insect, however, other beetles, such as the Mexican Bean Beetle or the Japanese Beetle damage gardens and crops.
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Post by september on Dec 10, 2016 11:00:06 GMT -5
I wish I could have voted for beetles and snails, because I do think they are cute and interesting despite their pestiness.
Bluelace is right - some species have both pests and beneficials which tended to cancel out my voting for them.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Dec 10, 2016 13:14:46 GMT -5
^ What they said.
I ended up not voting for butterflies as friends because their caterpillars can be pests, especially on dill and parsley. However, I almost voted for butterflies because they are pollinators, and they are beautiful. Moth caterpillars tend to do more damage in my garden, especially the dreaded SVB, so I don't call those friends even though moths are pollinators.
I call wasps friends because of their predation on pest insects, but that is an uneasy friendship for sure. I let the wasps alone as long as they nest out of the way and are not too aggressive. But the mud daubers and paper wasps have an annoying habit of nesting on my porches and even right on the door frames. "Friends" or not, those nests get destroyed as soon as I spot them.
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