It's the time of year when plants are coming out of dormancy, but also bugs will be more prevalent as temperatures rise.  At the Extension office, we receive many calls about bugs, and the vast majority of insects that people are worried about are NOT bad.  A typical backyard contains 1,000 or more different insect species.  The vast majority of insects are HARMLESS or even BENEFICIAL.  Less than 1% of insects are considered pests.

So don't fret when you see an insect in your backyard.

Here are just some examples of good bugs:

Predators

Ground beetles

Lacewings

Syrphid flies

Spiders (technically not an insect, but is a good predator)

Predatory True Bugs

Damsel bugs

Assassin bugs

Some of the bad guys:

Sucking Insects

Aphids

Scale insects

Spider mites

Chewing Insects

Caterpillars

Bagworms

Beetles

Japanese beetles

Flea beetles

If you see a pest, try to identify it before you decide to spray or destroy it.  Feel free to send the Extension office a photo (in focus) of the insect.