One of the key secrets of having a healthy, blooming garden is keeping it insect-free, isn't it? Indeed, suitable pest control measures need to be adopted so as to ensure that harmful pests do not have the chance to damage gardens. However, there are no reasons to have a fixed notion that all garden insects are potentially harmful. In fact, there are certain varieties of predatory pests which can effectively eliminate other, damage-causing insect attacks.

Most pest control measures involve the usage of chemical pesticides. These chemicals however, often have adverse side effects on the garden plants as well. Hence, more and more gardeners are gradually opting for more environment-friendly pest control solutions. Such 'green' methods of controlling the harmful pests would protect the garden, from pest attacks as well as from the harmful chemical pesticides. Having the beneficial predatory insects in the garden is one of such methods of controlling the 'bad' pests.

There are a whole lot of predatory pests that should ideally be present in your garden. These pests eat up the harmful insects, thereby arresting the growth and infestations of the latter. A list of such 'good', eco-friendly insects can be obtained in the seed catalogs or at prominent centers for gardening. The names of these insects can be available over the web as well. Some of the beneficial insects, that are good for a garden, are:

• Ladybugs - These insects feed on potentially damage-causing smaller garden pests. Ladybugs are particularly recognized as insects that can effectively fight against the growth of aphids. Marigolds, yarrows or even native grass need to be present as the ideal habitat of ladybugs.



• Parasitic wasps - These wasps kill off harmful caterpillars and other insects by reproducing within the bodies of the latter. The young wasps, once put inside the soft bodies of the harmful pests, gradually eliminate them.



• Spiders - Shrubs, mulch piles, brushes and areas of compost are ideal for bringing in spiders in a garden. The spiders, in turn, can destroy a large number of harmful garden insects. A humid atmosphere is necessary for keeping these beneficial spiders in the garden.



• Lacewings - Flowers like tansy, coreopsis and cosmos present an ideal thriving place for lacewings. These insects are widely recommended for the elimination of caterpillar eggs, aphids, mites and thrips.



• Dragonflies - These insects are ideal as live pest controllers in gardens. Dragonflies can also eliminate mosquitoes and other harmful pests that have stinging properties.



• Ground beetles - Slugs and other larvae (with soft skins) are extremely harmful for gardens. These pests can be effectively removed by ground beetles, that are present just below the ground surface levels.

Apart from the above insects, hover flies, certain stinging wasps and praying mantises are also counted as effective creatures which can remove damage-creating pests. These potentially beneficial pests can be ordered and bought from garden centers. Creating an ideal, moist atmosphere in the garden, as well as providing food and living to these insects is also necessary.

Pest control measures generally have a cost of around $4000-$6000 per hectare (per season) on an annual basis. Costs also vary with the type of beneficial pests ordered, whether chemical pesticides are used, and certain other factors. Once these 'good' insects are present in a garden, and arrangements have been made for their healthy development, they can certainly destroy the harmful garden pests, in an eco-friendly manner too.