Well, we can't blame you. Neither can Paula White of Orcon Organic Control, Inc., who says, "if you take the average landscaper, you'll find a hardy worker who's typically very macho. They just want to get it done and done right. In the past, they've been so inundated with organic this and that...if you ask them about using organics, it's like asking-have you ever worn a skirt?"

In spite of this, there's been a growing trend to find alternatives to pest control, other than the broad use of chemicals. More and more consumers are simply urging and, in some cases, demanding that their gardeners and landscapers use softer, environmentally safe products.

This brings us to the bugs!

The agricultural industry has been using good bugs as an alternative to chemical pesticides for years and it's a trend that seems likely to continue. They're finding the use of good bugs and other organic alternatives saves them time and money in the long run because nature is allowed to do its thing.

It's just a matter of establishing a good balanced system, so the good bugs can flourish and keep the bad bugs to a minimum. Completely eliminating the bad bugs isn't the goal either- you still need some bad bugs around to be a food source for the good bugs.

"It's the way the world was meant to be," White said. "There's a food source out there for everybody."

When harsh pesticides were used in the past, maybe 98 percent of the bad bugs were killed. The 2 percent that survived did so because they were more resilient than the rest. Those 2 percent then reproduced, making all the bad bugs even more resistant to pesticides. This meant consistently higher concentrations of poisons had to be used to do the same job, further jeopardizing the health of the public and the environment.

Common sense says it's better to work with mother nature instead of against her. Almost all pests have natural enemies. So it goes without saying that not every bug you'll find in a garden or landscape is a bad bug.

Learning to differentiate is the first step. Then all you have to do is introduce the natural predators or parasites of the bad bugs to bring it all back into balance, the way nature has been doing it all along.

Ladybird Beetles or Ladybugs

(Hippodamia convergens)

Otherwise known as the Tyrannosaurus Rex of the Insect Kingdom, the ladybug is the most common of all beneficial insects. Voracious predators, they prefer to feed on aphids and will eat up to 50 a day. They will also eat scale, mealy bugs, boil worm, leaf hopper, asparagus beetle larvae, whitefly, corn ear worm and many other soft-bodied insects. They also dine exclusively on insects and do not harm vegetation in any way.

Praying Mantids or Praying Mantis

(Tenodera aridifolia sinensis)

Like the ladybug, praying mantids eat a wide variety of garden pests. In their younger stages they feed on aphids, thrips, flies and maggots, small caterpillars, leaf hoppers, white grubs and other soft-bodied insects. Mature mantids feed on larger caterpillars, earwigs, chinch bugs, sow bugs, beetles, grasshoppers and many other large insects.

Beneficial Nematodes

(Steinernema carpocapsae)

These ferocious little organisms are microscopic and attack more than 230 kinds of soil dwelling and wood boring pests such as flea larvae, white grubs, cutworms, corn root worms, strawberry weevils, gypsy moth larvae, cabbage root maggots and fungus gnat larvae, just to name a few. Once introduced, BN will hunt down, penetrate and kill most soil dwelling pests. They will remain active for about 2 years, although annual applications are generally recommended.

Decollate Snails

Before you step on another snail or callously pour salt on one, make sure it isn't a decollate snail. These snails attack the common brown garden snail (helix snail) and the snail's eggs. They will also eat decaying plant material, which keeps them fed when they can't find pest snails to dine on.

Using decollate snails can be an effective way to control pest snails, but it won't happen over night. It takes a few weeks for them to get established in their new environment and have a noticeable effect on the pest snail population, and a year or more to really take control.

In times of stress, the decollate snail retreats into its shell and seals the opening with a membrane to conserve moisture. They may appear to be dead, but don't be fooled. They can exist this way for weeks at a time. To make them active again, pour some water on them. They may even be submerged in a pan of water for 3 or 4 minutes and then released.

Suppliers of Beneficial Organisms

There are well over a hundred retail and wholesale suppliers of beneficial insects and organisms in North America (see this page). The wide range of insects and organisms they sell offer cost effective alternatives to control pests and weeds. Many of them pollinate plants and others help improve the soil with nutrients. Working together, the proper proportions of beneficial insects and organisms can help achieve a healthy balanced system- which, in the long run, can mean less maintenance with fewer chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides to keep landscapes flourishing and beautiful.

Consultation Services

If all this sounds like a good idea, but you're not sure where to start, many of the suppliers offer free consultation as part of their services. They can help you determine regionally specific regimes for integrating beneficial insects and organisms. Some organisms may have government restrictions on their use and permits may be required for their shipment and release, so you may also want to consult with your local agricultural regulatory agency. If permits are required, often the suppliers have them or can assist you in obtaining them. LCM