GARDEN HELPERS.

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Soldier beetle - soldier beetles are the unsung heroes of this story. Plain-Janes by design, their larvae are predatory, feeding on insects like the dreaded aphid. As an adult, they make aggressive pollinators.

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Hover fly - adult hover flies consume nectar and plant pollen, while immature counterparts feed on soft-bodied insects. A fly resembling a bee by suit and dress, they are active pollinators, reinforcing your biologically diverse food web.

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Ladybug - the ladybug bears countless ties to ancient and contemporary mythos. Regarded as magical because of, in ages past, their critical part played in saving crops, ladybugs dramatically change shape and color from teen to adult. Prior to cocoon stage, the fabled ladybug is larvae, outfitted in an intimidating orange and black exterior shell. At 2 - 4 weeks old, they are prepared to pupate and up to 15 days later, become an adult ladybug. This metamorphosis takes a great deal of energy until feeding recommences at the time of the mature insect's emergence from dormancy. These guys, as infants and adults, feed on soft-bodied insects such as spider mites and aphids.

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Praying Mantis - YIKES, INVASIVE! Best kept as an indoor pet. These temperamental predators can hunt small birds, including hummingbirds, for food.

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Lacewing - a fairy-like bug with a slender build and translucent, vein-embellished wings, this elegant garden visitor eats soft-bodied bugs as larvae, taking up to six weeks before spinning itself a cocoon. The immature lacewing boasts a ridged, bumpy bodice, similar to what you'd witness in ladybug larvae. Adult lacewings mostly consume plant byproduct. 

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Cricket - the under-appreciated cricket is a garden companion that feeds on both plant material and exoskeleton-free insects. Broadly recognized as a sign of wealth and good luck.

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Grasshopper - this hippy-hoppity sensei knows something we don't; what is it, we might never know! The grasshopper is a voracious eater and herbivore whose habits are predilections of a most-evolved insect genus. You can count on your grasshopper friend to feed on most plant-life. A delicacy to even the most discriminating of birds. 

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Honey bee - your garden MVP. Slender-figured and speedier in feed-rate than its full-bodied teammate, the honey bee, the bumble bee will ensure your plants produce more blooms in less time. This pollinator eats nectar and pollen.

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June bug - what makes this beetle so unique? A June bug can take up to 3 years to meet its full lifecycle, hibernating as it's squishy, grub-self in the depths of your garden bed, often times, for 2 - 3 winters. While underground, grubs eat plant matter. As matured adults, June bugs feed on flowers and leaves. Bluebirds, known to consume up to 2,000 bugsa day, have a pallet for these. Cardinals do, too.

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Bumble bee - a slow-feeder, the honey bee relishes its time in the garden by moving in rhythm with your unique gardenscape and any plant varieties installed. You will observe your honeybees hover, land, and nestle into blossoms, in contrast to its neurotic, ADHD-afflicted bumble bee cousin. Honey bees feed on nectar and are active pollinators.

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Cutworms - a misunderstood good-guy of the garden, the cutworm will devour your flowers, while also serving as a vital food source for some of Kentucky's most frequently spotted bird breeds, including Bluebirds, Robins, and Sparrows. Cutworms are infant moths, pre-pupa stage.

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Aphid - a colony of these sap-sucking insects can wipe out a fully matured rose garden in less than a year if left unaddressed. When you spot a community of aphids feeding on your milkweed, try wiping them clean using your fingertips and water. A DIY castile soap + peppermint oil spray can kill on contact and prevent future outbreaks. Introduce predatory insects for reinforcements.

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