Assassin Bug eating a japanese beetle (photo courtesy of NC Cooperative Extension)
It's easy to think that every insect you see in the garden is there to eat holes in your vegetables or strip your flowers of their leaves, but many common insects actually keep damage at bay. Planning a garden that invites the beneficial insects to set up camp is a smart way to naturally protect your garden against the damage done by aphids, thrips, and mites.
Richard Merrill, Professor Emeritus of Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, CA is an expert on beneficial insects and has written an article for Renee's Gardens about this topic. It is a practical guide for creating a garden that attracts and feeds beneficials:
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