How It Works - UK (2020-05)

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D OW?Itis moreefficientto water plants during the evening since they will retain more essential nutrients

RO VILLAIN

eetmother nature’s bug heroes, the plants that will attr

into your garden and the insect villains they preyupon

Ladybird

This beautiful and well-loved beetle will eat many

unwanted pests including aphids, mites, fleas

and whitefly. When threatened they warn

predators by exuding a bitter, pungent fluid.

ATTRACTEDBY

Dandelions,commonyarrowanddillwillall

encourageladybirdsintoyourgarden.

Ap

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EATENBY

Damsel bugs, ladybirds, lacewing, hover flies,

beetles, midges

Spiders

Althoughoftenunpopular,spiderswillgetridof

manygardenvillainsincludingfruitflies,aphids

andmosquitoes.Thereareover45,000species

ofspiderworldwide,keepingflyinfestationsto

a minimum.

ATTRACTEDBY

Anytallplantsorthickbushes.

Cabbage worm caterpillar

They eat through many varieties of vegetables

before spinning a cocoon and attaching to a plant

where they pupate. They re-emerge as

butterflies and lay eggs, starting the cycle again.

EATEN BY

Wasps, shield bugs, birds

Groundbeetles

Night-activegroundbeetlescanbefoundallover

theworldandincludeover40,000species.They

arepopularwithgardenerssincetheypreyupon

unwantedslugs,caterpillarsandcutworms.

ATTRACTEDBY

Plantingclover,eveningprimroseand

Amaranthuswillattracttheseheroes.

Fleas

Fleas are universally disliked by everyone, not just

gardeners, since they bite both humans and pets.

Planting pennyroyal in the garden and by the

back door deters fleas from settling.

EATEN BY

Snakes, ants, beetles, frogs, lizards

Damselbugs

Damselbugspreyuponaphids,mites,

caterpillars,potatobeetlesandmanyother

croppests,catchingholdofinsectswiththeir

longforelegs.

ATTRACTEDBY

Sweet-smellingspearmint,fennelandcaraway

willencouragedamselbugsontoyourproperty.

Mealybugs

Mealybugs are soft pink, grey or white

insects that suck tender stems. They are

particularly keen on delicate plants that

thrive in greenhouses.

EATEN BY

Lacewing, Mealybug ladybird, spiders

Hoverflies

Theadulthoverflyis a usefulpollinatorsinceit

enjoyssippingnectar,whileitslarvaewillprey

uponaphids,scaleinsectsandcaterpillars.They

arethereforeparticularlypopularwith

agriculturalfarmers.

ATTRACTEDBY

Yarrow,dillandstatice.

Red spider mite

The minute spider mite sucks the chlorophyll

from the leaves of plants such as the tomato

plant, damaging the leaves and leaving a silky

web behind.

EATEN BY

Ladybirds, predatory mites

phids

dstargets secretesticky

eydewwhich growthofmould.

y multiplyinc quicklyandcanoverrun

ntwithin aday.

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