According to Dr. Geoff Zehnder, Professor of entomology at Clemson, “If you are going to farm or garden organically, you need to build in attractants for beneficials.”

The first rule to learn is the distinction between the “good guys” and the “bad guys”: Not all pests are a threat to your garden plants, and many of them are actually helpful in fighting off other plant predators.

You can classify the good guys using the three “P’s” system:

“The three ‘P’s’ of beneficial insects are pollinators, predators and parasites. Pollinators, such as honeybees, fertilize flowers, which increases the productivity of food crops ranging from apples to zucchini. Predators, such as lady beetles and soldier bugs, consume pest insects as food. Parasites use pests as nurseries for their young. On any given day, all three ‘P’s’ are feeding on pests or on flower pollen and nectar in a diversified garden. If you recognize these good bugs, it’s easier to appreciate their work and understand why it’s best not to use broad-spectrum herbicides.”

The use of such herbicides and pesticides can be detrimental to the complex relationships between plants, pests and predators —all the more reason why natural insect control works better. Because pesticides, even organic varieties, make no distinction between helpful and hurtful insects, in the end their regular use can have many negative impacts, including the suppression of the soil food web and pollution of waterways. Instead, encouraging the presence of predatory warriors that will defend and protect your garden plants from common  pests is not only an environmentally sound management strategy, it also encourages biodiversity and plant pollination.

‘Encap’ Pollination Honey Bee Mix – All-In-One Formula

‘Home Harvest’ Beekeeping Jacket

‘Home Harvest’ Beekeeping Hat & Veil

Honey B Healthy

‘Little Giant’ 2 Frame Extractor

‘Little Giant’ 10″ Hive Tool

‘Little Giant’ 10-Frame Deep Hive Body

‘Little Giant’ 10-Frame Beginner Hive Kit

‘Little Giant’ 10-Frame Beehive

‘Little Giant’ Bee Escape

‘Little Giant’ Bee Hive Hole Plug

‘Little Giant’ Beehive Log

‘Little Giant’ Beekeeping Brush

‘Little Giant’ Beekeeping Gloves w/ Padded Vent

‘Little Giant’ Beekeeping Hat & Veil

‘Little Giant’ Entrance Feeder w/Jar

‘Little Giant’ Frame Grip

‘Little Giant’ Medium Beehive Frames w/Foundation

‘Little Giant’ Smoker Fuel

‘Little Giant’ Stainless Steel Smoker

‘Little Giant’ TYVEK Coverall

‘Little Giant’ Uncapping Scratcher Fork

*Beekeeping For Dummies Guide Book