Beneficial Insects for Your Landscaping

While most people may think about keeping bugs out of their desert landscaping, there are actually some insects that are very beneficial to Las Vegas homeowners. Encouraging these plants to call your landscaping home often means that it will look more beautiful. Furthermore, it may mean that you have to use fewer chemicals to control harmful insects. Here are some insects that you may want to consider.

Ground Beetles

While there are many specific species of ground beetles found in Las Vegas, they are all beneficial for controlling armyworms, cutworms and other insects that like to feed on the roots of plants. Ground beetles are attracted by undisturbed perennial beds filled with clover, pigweed, camphorweed and other low plants. They also love to live inside rotting logs.

Ladybugs

Attracting ladybugs to your landscaping helps to eliminate mites, aphids and mealybugs. In fact, one ladybug may eat up to 500 aphids annually. You can attract ladybugs to your desert landscaping by planting flowers like butterfly milkweed, western coneflower, purple sage and columbine that bloom at different times throughout the growing season. Since ladybugs are pollinators, encouraging them to stick around will keep your landscaping looking great all year long.

Damselflies

The damselfly looks similar to a dragonfly but is much more beneficial because it eats mosquitoes and other aquatic insects. In order to attract these helpful insects to your landscaping, make sure that you keep water available close to the ground. These insects prefer the water is surrounded by ornamental grasses as it gives them a place to rest while watching for mosquitoes and other insects to eat.

Praying Mantis

The unusual looking praying mantis is a very helpful insect because it eats crickets, grasshoppers and flies. In order to attract them to your yard, consider planting roses along with shrubs. These insects also like tall grasses to hide in when on the prey for insects to consume.

Taking care of desert landscaping in Las Vegas is easier when you attract these insects to your environment.