Huw Richards’ guide on the natural pest predators you should be encouraging into your garden

In your quest for a healthy and pest-free garden, harnessing the power of beneficial predators can be a game-changer. Here, expert gardener Huw Richards talks us through some of these natural warriors:

Larvae of Harlequin Ladybird eating an aphid

Ladybirds (Ladybugs):

Ladybirds are well-known aphid assassins. They devour large numbers of these sap-sucking pests, effectively controlling aphid infestations. Both adult ladybirds and their voracious larvae contribute to this vital task. In fact the larvae have an even bigger appetite than the adults and are a real treat to find in your garden!

Parasitic Wasps:

These diverse insects lay their eggs inside or on other insects, ultimately leading to the demise of their hosts. Parasitic wasps are formidable foes against pests such as aphids, caterpillars, whiteflies, scales, and more.

Hoverflies:

With their dual role as pollinators and predators, hoverflies are invaluable in the garden. Their larvae, known as "aphid lions," have insatiable appetites for aphids and other soft-bodied pests, and quite literally hoover them up as they migrate around your garden.

Lacewings:

Delicate lacewings and their larvae are effective aphid hunters. They also prey on mealybugs, mites, and other small insects, providing a multi-purpose defence.

Ground Beetles:

These nighttime warriors, which patrol the soil and leaf litter, have a diverse palate, feasting on slugs, snails, caterpillars, cutworms, and various insect larvae. The best way to encourage them into your garden is to use grass clippings, leaf, or wool mulch, particularly in undercover growing areas like greenhouses or polytunnels. Not only does this create an ideal home for these impressive hunters, but it also helps with water conservation.

Birds

Birds play a crucial role in natural pest control as their diet includes garden pests like caterpillars, beetles, aphids, and grasshoppers. You can attract birds with water sources and nesting boxes and, as a lot of migratory birds come back each year from far away to nest and rear their offspring, putting up bird boxes can help them produce many more hungry mouths to benefit your garden too. Whilst it might be tempting to put out lots of bird feeders, note that this can often disrupt the yearly feeding cycles of birds and make them dependent on produced grain. Birds have evolved to survive on fat reserves over Winter, which they will be keen to replenish the following Spring so it’s best to use feeders sparingly and only during times of the year when insect life is at its lowest.

You can enhance the presence of these beneficial predators by practising companion planting, creating suitable habitats, and avoiding pesticide use. By inviting these allies into your garden, you'll promote natural pest control and cultivate a thriving, harmonious environment.

For more tips on what flowers, herbs and crops to plant in your garden to encourage more natural predators, take a look at Huw’s blog on harnessing the power of beneficial predators