Let me start by saying that I’ve not always been a fan of bugs, with one exception: the firefly. My dislike for them has never reached Blathers from Animal Crossing level, but I’ve always wanted them in their space, which is separate from mine. This has been the case despite my love for the outdoors. I spent countless hours hiking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, and camping growing up, but bugs were one of my least favorite parts of it. Meanwhile, bugs have always loved me. They will bite me every chance they can, and in a group of people, I’ll be covered in bites when others have none. So, it’s safe to say that it’s been a one-sided relationship.

That has changed with our garden this year. Before our garden, I knew how important pollinators were to a garden’s success. I was also aware of the declining bee and butterfly populations. As a result, Magz and I were focused on planting flowers that would attract pollinators. But little did I know just how many pollinators there are. Nor did I know how beneficial non-pollinating bugs can be to our garden and the environment at large.

Research Changed My Mind

When we were planning our garden and researching seeds, we came across a lot of vegetable seeds that rely on pollinators to reach their peak. Many plants, such as tomatoes, peppers, and other members of the nightshade family, self-pollinate but need help from pollinators to reach their fullest potential. Meanwhile, squash, melons, cucumbers, and many fruit plants or trees can’t self-pollinate and need a helping hand. Humans can make this happen by removing the male flower and touching it to the female flower. However, it’s much easier to let our pollinator friends do the work for us. Letting pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, do this work is mutually beneficial. Our plants grow and produce ample fruit, while the pollinators get the food they need to survive.

For the longest time, the extent of my pollination knowledge ended with what I described above and the two types of insects: bees and butterflies. And, if I’m being honest, I was under the impression that the most important bee species was the honey bee. For years, the honey bee was the poster insect for environmental destruction and the collapse of native insect populations. This focus resulted in people buying local honey and establishing bee colonies to rebuild the population. However, I recently learned that the problem and the ways we can address it go much deeper.

Earlier this summer, I learned about Buzzkill, which was a podcast series produced by the Food & Environment Reporting Network (FERN) focused on the declining pollinator population. I learned so much, but what stood out the most was that the number of bees and beehives isn’t the problem. We have plenty of apiaries and beekeepers. The larger issue is a lack of food for the pollinators. Because we have destroyed a large portion of the natural habitat in the United States and many people choose not to grow native plants, we have reduced the amount of food for these insects and animals. Buzzkill also taught me that there are a lot more bee species than I ever realized, and honey bees aren’t necessarily the most important. After learning all of this and discussing it with Magz, it changed our approach to planting and gardening this year.

The Benefits of Bugs

Like most people, I was aware of pollinators and the benefits they bring, but that was largely the extent of my knowledge until I began doing more research and learned about all the ways that bugs help us. The World Wildlife Federation estimates that only 0.5% of all insects damage crops. That doesn’t mean that 99.5% of all insects are good, but it does mean that well over half of the insects are beneficial.

Tackling Problematic Insects

This was the benefit that surprised me the most. I didn’t know that some bugs help to manage the pest population. I ignorantly thought that the only way to handle these pests was with insecticides. As I typed that last sentence, I forgot that I had watched an episode of Ask This Old House, where Roger the landscaping expert traveled to Florida to help answer questions about pest control. Instead of recommending a potentially harmful spray, he brought in an entomology professor from the University of South Florida to educate the homeowner (and the audience) about beneficial insects and how they can destroy the population of invasive species. Now remembering that episode, the information I learned through my research makes a ton of sense.

Not having to solely rely on insecticide sprays or dust is a big deal. Our Creator has provided us with a natural remedy for problematic insects that can destroy our garden. When that’s the case, why would we want to only use chemicals? The majority of these insects are predators (ladybugs, lacewings, praying mantises) that kill and feed on individual pests, such as aphids. However, some of them are called parasitizers that lay eggs on other insects. The resulting larvae then feed on the insect. An example of this is the parasitic wasp.

Decomposition

Insects also operate as the garbage collectors and recyclers of our ecosystem. They eat and break down what we don’t want to touch or do anything with: animal matter, dead plants, food that we didn’t or can’t eat, etc. If you have a composter, you will have witnessed this. Anytime I open the lid to our composters when it’s warm, I see insects flying around or crawling on the rotting food and grass. As the insects consume these items, they produce nutrient-rich organic matter that improves your soil.

Soil Improvement

Soil improvement is slightly different from decomposition. This category applies to the insects (earthworms, ants, and termites) that tunnel through the soil. This aerates compacted soil, improving drainage and leading to better soil. So, the next time you’re digging in the garden and come across an earthworm, remember that it’s doing yeoman’s work to provide you with better soil.

Why it Matters & Applying the Knowledge

Why it matters is pretty obvious. Humanity has severely damaged the environment through selfish acts committed in the name of progress. The commercial farming industry has used chemicals that have killed all insects, including beneficial ones, stripped the ground of its nutrients, and run off into our water sources. We plant non-native or non-pollinating species of flowers that don’t provide food to pollinators, and international shipping has led to invasive species being transported throughout the world, so the native insects can no longer control the population. And to top it all off, we aren’t doing anything on a large scale to put nutrients back in the soil or restrict the importing of ornamental flowers that serve no purpose beyond looking pretty.

Focusing on beneficial bugs, growing plants that attract pollinators, and creating an environment where native, productive insects can thrive has many benefits. As mentioned above, predator and parisitizer insects reduce our dependency on chemicals to control the bad insects. Even organic insecticides can kill the beneficial bugs that we want to thrive. Relying on insects to do the job lets nature take its course.

Providing pollinators with a food source helps your plants to reach their full potential while also letting some of the most beautiful and productive insects (honeybees and butterflies) succeed. Furthermore, flowers that attract pollinators not only feed insects; They also serve as a food source for hummingbirds and bats. Both species eat a lot of insects, with brown bats capable of consuming up to 1,000 mosquitoes per hour, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Meanwhile, hummingbirds feed on aphids, weevils, and spiders, all of which can be detrimental to your garden. In fact, hummingbirds eat far more insects than the nectar they get from feeders or flowers.

Finally, we arrive at my last point. As gardeners, we should all be motivated to create native habitats on our property. That means growing native species, creating safe spaces for prey animals, and providing food and water sources for birds, insects, and herbivores. The benefits of doing this are innumerable, but include serving as the foundation of the entire food system, hosting native insects, and often having deeper root systems that address water runoff problems. Not to mention, there’s also the benefit of fitting into your area’s history and culture.

Magz and I applied this knowledge as soon as we started to plan our garden. We only bought flowers that attract pollinators, and when possible, we planted them close to our vegetables that need to be pollinated. We also started researching insects found in the garden to learn if they are beneficial or detrimental. Previously, I would have killed them without a second thought. I have also started to sincerely appreciate bees and not fear them when I’m in the garden. Of course, I still hate hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets, but being around bumblebees in the garden is a wonderful experience. I recently watched a bumblebee crawling over the flowers of a tomatillo plant as it collected pollen on its legs. It was such a peaceful environment to be in, and I recommend doing it unless you’re allergic to bee stings. Even then, though, you have to bother bumblebees to get them to sting.

Where We Want to Be

I’m at a place where I would say I’m borderline obsessed with pollinators, saving native habitats, and treating the earth with respect. Like I said, I’ve always loved being outside and have been committed to preserving nature. But my motivation has been intensified this year. The attempt to sell off protected lands pushed me over the edge and pissed me off. As an individual, I can’t change the nation’s direction on my own (although I did contact our representatives), but I can make a difference in my backyard.

We’re going to dive deeper into native plants next year and continue our commitment to only growing flowers that attract pollinators. We are also going to continue converting our yard into gardens, both flower and vegetable. Ultimately, we’d love to have the bulk of our current yard be a wildflower meadow in the future. We’re also going to continue to provide animals with safe spaces with brush piles.

We recently learned that you can have your property certified by the National Wildlife Federation as an official Wildlife Habitat. The requirements aren’t outrageous and are pretty easy to meet. We’re going to pursue this in the coming years, and when combining it with our conscious gardening practices, we’re hoping to make a real difference. It may be difficult to fix commercial farming practices, but if we all focus on our own property, it will add up.

Future Preservation Content

I know that this post wasn’t as focused on our garden as my content typically is, but I think it’s important to think about. I also hope you enjoyed it, because I’m planning to write more posts in this area. I have plans to write about how we’ve blended flower and vegetable gardening, the frustration I have with lawn obsession, and more environmental content in general.