Pests to Be Thankful For This Holiday Season

With the holiday season finally here, many of us are reflecting on all of the good things in our lives that we are thankful for.  While pests don't generally top the list and usually get a bad rap, there are a few beneficial ones that we should really appreciate.

The ladybug is a favorite for those who enjoy gardening! Not only do they bring good luck, but they feed on aphids which are harmful to plants. Some avid gardeners even purchase ladybugs for an easy, affordable and sustainable solution to keep the real pests away.

We are very thankful for the beautiful four-winged dragonfly! This beneficial pest usually takes up residence in common mosquito breeding areas and then feeds on them helping control the population. Amazingly, the dragonfly has been around since the dinosaurs and hasn't changed a bit.  Mother Nature definitely got this one right!

There are so many reasons to be thankful for honeybees. Not only do they provide us with a sweet treat but they also pollinate beautiful flowers as well as more than 100 different crops across the United States.

The Big Eyed Bug, aptly named due to their proportionately large eyes, is a beneficial predator that feeds on a variety of unwanted pests including mites, small insects and insect eggs. Big eyed bug nymphs can eat as many as 1600 spider mites before reaching adulthood and adults eat as many as 80 mites per day.

We hope this information helps put some very special bugs in a new light and we wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!