Gardening is a satisfying and beneficial hobby. You can spend your free time in the garden to observe nature and relax your mind. However, gardening becomes challenging when pests invade your space. Different pests can enter your garden and ruin it within a short duration.
The worst part is that controlling them becomes hard especially in areas like Langley as conditions are favorable for them. Therefore, you have to opt for professionals for pest control in Langley. Another thing you can try is to bring in some natural predators. They will kill different pests, ensuring your garden remains safe. In this post, we will tell you some effective natural predators you can rely on to get rid of different garden pests.
Top 09 Predators to Eliminate Garden Pests
The following section is all about some highly effective predators who can kill various garden pests. Let’s explore these predators and their favorite prey.
01. Ladybugs
Ladybugs are among the most common pest predators. They feed on different pests present in your garden. Their primary prey is Aphids that are commonly found in gardens. Ladybugs simply kill and eat them to reduce their numbers. A single ladybug can eat up to 50 aphids a day.
Apart from that, they can prey on some other pests as well. Scale insects and mites are also among their favorite prey. The best part is that ladybugs’ larvae also kill and eat pests, ensuring your garden remains safe from them.
02. Praying Mantises
These are powerful predators of some pests. Their swift movements and strong legs help them catch different pests that they eat. They usually grab insects with their strong front legs and then eat them. They can prey on a huge variety of insects including caterpillars, beetles, etc.
03. Parasitic Wasps
As clear from their name, they can share a parasitic relationship with their hosts. Garden pests, such as aphids, white flies, and caterpillars are their favorite host. They rely on them to fulfill their nutritional needs. They kill them by absorbing all the nutrients from their bodies. They also lay their eggs inside or on the surface of pest insects, and the developing larvae consume their hosts from within. Different species target specific pests.
04. Ground Beetles
They are tiny yet powerful predators of various garden pests. Ground beetles are nocturnal hunters that patrol the soil surface, feeding on a variety of pests. They usually come out at night and eat those pests who spend most of their life cycle on the soil. When they come in contact with them, they simply kill and eat them. Snails and slugs are their main prey as they spend most of their time on the soil.
05. Birds
Birds are among the most common and beautiful pets. Many people keep them at home. Apart from pet birds, other birds also love spending time in your garden. They are among the most effective predators who can kill garden pests rapidly. From sparrows to crows, almost all birds can eat insects. They use their sharp beak to kill and eat different insects that can otherwise damage your garden.
The most common bird predators are hens. They can spend their whole day in your garden just eating different insects. Ants, snails, slugs, aphids, or any other insect in your garden can easily be consumed by them. Apart from that, you can also rely on peacocks. They are even stronger predators of insects and kill bigger ones as well. You may not believe it, but they can kill and eat snakes present in your garden.
06. Frogs and Toads
If your garden is infested by flying insects, then frogs and toads can do the trick for you. They are super effective against flying insects. Their specialized tongue helps them catch and eat flying pests even without moving an inch from their place. Though they are not traditional pets, many people keep them in their homes. You can also bring them to your garden to kill pests. Just a few frogs can eat a considerable amount of flying insects every day. So, they can pest-free your garden in a short time.
07. Pitcher Plant and Venus Flytrap
These are among the most interesting predators who rely on pests or insects for their nutritional requirements. The main thing about them is that they are plants. You can plant them in your garden to control the population of pests.
Venus flytrap remains open until insects enter it. It has special stick material that doesn’t let insects fly away after sitting on it. Then they slowly close and consume them. On the other hand, the pitcher plant also has a similar mechanism. They are usually in the form of pictures with their lid open. They attract pests to enter the pitcher and then close the lid.
08. Spiders
Spiders are also among the common predators of pests. They usually trap insects and feed on them. They use their web to catch different insects. You can introduce them in your garden to get rid of some creepy insects such as flies.
09. Cats
Unlike other predators, they don’t kill insects and tiny pests. They are specialized hunters who can catch and kill rodents present in your garden. They can move swiftly without producing any noise to catch mice or squirrels. As a result, your garden will remain safe from the harmful impacts of rodents.
Bottom Line
The aforementioned predators are a good option to control garden pests. However, they are helpful at an early stage only. If pests have developed colonies in your garden, you should hire professionals to knock them out of your home.
