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Did you know that there are 950,000 species of insects? And that most of those are beneficial to our environment or food for other beneficial critters? Most people are really only trying to kill about 10 unwanted insects in their yard. When you take that into account, does it really make sense to broadcast poison over your entire property? And if you have beloved pets, that can be a serious issue! Let’s take a look at another option for the common “pest.” Mosquitoes This little blood-sucker is probably the most despised pest on the list. It’s been known to carry all kinds of diseases, and many people have a very bad reaction to the anti-clotting agent that they introduce when they bite. Would it surprise you to learn that a single dragonfly can eat its own body weight of these insects in just 30 minutes? Damselflies, too. And where would you find such great allies for your outdoor environment? Hanging out around a living water feature (pond, waterfall, stream), of course! Many biologists agree that a well-built ecosystem pond is actually the cure for the West Nile Virus! Crickets In the Far East, it’s considered good luck to have a cricket in your house, and very bad luck to kill one, even by accident. But here in the States, we don’t really adhere to that superstition. So, what do we do about those? Well, frogs and toads LOVE crickets. And where can you find those? Hanging out around a living water feature (pond), of course! Scorpions Yikes! No one likes these guys around the house! Even our cat isn’t real fond of them. But scorpions are actually pretty resistant to the common pest controls out there, despite advertising claims to the contrary. So, what now? Believe it or not: frogs and toads. And where can you find those? Hanging out around a living water feature (pond), of course! Are you sensing a theme yet? That covers the three top hated insects. There are others, but they can all be hunted and eaten by cool critters that will live around your yard happily if you have the right environment for them (pond, waterfall, stream, etc.). Here are some great resources to learn more about integrated pest management: https://cals.arizona.edu/apmc/ http://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/WhatIsIPM/ http://npic.orst.edu/pest/ipm.htm For more general information on insects in Arizona: Insects of the Southwest by Floyd Werner, Phh.D. & Carl Olson, M.S. Draongflies & Damselflies of the Southwest by Robert A. Behrstock MORE ARTICLES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT BEES IN MY POND? SNAILS IN THE PHOENIX POND RODENTS AND THE PHOENIX POND
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