Planting for Biodiversity! - The Life of the Parasitic Wasp, and Protecting Precious Caterpillars!
In this video, the Bountiful Gardens team will be stressing the importance of biodiversity in your garden! In these scorching months, it's critical that our beneficial insects have all the pollen and nectar they need to thrive. It's not all fun and games in the garden though--it's a bug-eat-bug world out there! This week, we're focusing on a pollinator that doubles as a pest control agent in the landscape: the parasitic wasp!
Despite being wasps, these critters don't bite or sting. In their adulthood, they feed on pollen and nectar, but to reproduce, they seek out host insects like aphids and caterpillars and lay their eggs on their bodies or their pre-laid eggs. Upon hatching, the larvae consume the host, emerging as a new wasp. It's spooky, but fascinating. And even more importantly, beneficial insects like these wasps can reduce or eliminate the need for pesticides and insecticides in your garden.
However, it's a bit tough to picture our adorable caterpillar friends going through such a process, so fortunately there are things you, as the master of your garden, can do to save them! If you find a caterpillar in your garden, you can scoop it up, pluck some of its host plant, and place it inside a mesh tent, out of direct sunlight. Make sure to replace the leaves each day, and before long, you'll have a chrysalis in your tent! From then on, you just have to be patient and let nature work her magic.
Finally, Glenn and Dan go over some great native plants you can add to your landscape to help foster a healthy insectary!
Here's a timestamp breakdown for you:
Biodiversity and Beneficial Insects - 0:19-2:13
Parasitic Wasps - 2:13-3:22
Raising Caterpillars - 3:22-4:14
Summersweet Pepperbush - 4:25-4:48
Yarrow - 4:48-5:03
Golden Alexander - 5:04-5:25
Spotted Bee Balm - 5:26-5:46
Goldenrods - 5:47-6:05
Swamp Milkweed - 6:05-6:20
Mountain Mint - 6:20-6:39
Asters - 6:39-7:02
There's no better time than RIGHT NOW to come manifest your perfect dream garden!!
Come down to any of our three locations--Ewing, Lawrenceville or Hillsborough to bring more bounty to your landscape. We'll all be here ready to give expert advice to make your gardening as rewarding as possible.
Our Website: https://www.bountifulgardens.com/
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For Landscape Design Inquiries: Email landscaping@bountifulgardens.com
We hope to see you soon!