HowStuffWorks Articles

HowStuffWorks Articles
Verminators Home »

5 Infestations That Can Be Good for Your Garden

By Jessika Toothman, HowStuffWorks.com

Get More HSW

Spidey Stuff:
* The Scoop on Spiders
* What is the world's deadliest spider?

More Buggy Stuff

Spotting pests off your patio can mean compounded problems for your plants, but in some cases, if you see a little bug scuttling by it isn't that big of a deal. Aside from the fact that you might want them gone because you don't like sharing you garden with anything having more than four legs, you can probably coexist with the following creatures without much of a problem.

In fact, they're usually doing you a favor. Read on to see why…

5. SPIDERS:

Spiders might make your skin crawl when you see them scurrying industriously around a recently ensnared victim, but their voracious appetites could be just what you need to keep harmful insect populations at tolerable levels in your garden.

Whether vigilantly waiting for a bug to blunder into their web or in active pursuit of one across the landscape, spiders prey on a wide range of pesky insects that might otherwise be chewing up your favorite flowers if left to their own devices.

The only downside is that spiders will occasionally snack on some of the other beneficial bugs on this list, so they can't always be counted on as cooperative connoisseurs.

NEXT: 4. LADYBUGS >>