The praying mantis;

Garden pests you want in your garden and king of them all, the Praying Mantis. This family of insects, consists over 2000 different specie throughout the world, yet is one of the most misunderstood insects in the garden. They are very susceptible to the contact chemicals sprayed in the garden, but as it only eats live meals, is safe if you use systemic poisons or chemicals.

Eating habits;

The humble “prayer” will eat any living insect. They have been known to eat bigger prey like scorpions and lizards but this only by the larger specie. Why is it a good pest? It eats anything, unfortunately even the other good insects.

Why is it detested by us? It's front legs have an array of sharp pin like features, quite painful if it lands on your neck. As they eat anything, the land on anything, and those front legs, arrayed with the gripping tool it's been blessed with, can make it intimidating. When frightened they will strike a pose with wings extended and front legs up as though readying itself like a boxer.

The sexual habits of the mantis normally results with the demise of the male, so they are generally virgins, and die as such. The female when full of eggs becomes a ferocious eater and the male after copulation becomes her next meal, sometimes loosing his head before the act is complete. It is record that he can complete the job headless, and in some cases appears a more vigorous partner headless.

The ladybug;

This family of insects is the rose growers friend, there are over 5000 different species. Found worldwide, and loved by children, attested to by the very successful child's clothing line marketed using the bug as the logo. This love however, may change to hate once the small bug has bitten them. The bug is very susceptible to all garden chemicals, contact and systemic. But it is also a ferocious eater, crushing the insect and sucking out the juice. They are not all brightly coloured, but as in nature, those that are brightly coloured poisonous to their predators, which are mainly birds.

Eating habits;

The bugs live on aphids, mites, mealy bugs and the scale insects. Most people will kill them with chemical applications as they appears as a plague on the plants. However, they are actually a sign of infestation by one of the bug's food source, that will damage your plant. So leave them in peace, they are saving you money, and keeping the garden environmentally clean. The winter months will see a hibernation in the warmer spots of the garden, where their eggs will be laid. The resulting worms pupate and the bugs develop.

I am sure, the poem about the Ladybird is still used today.

Ladybird ladybird fly away home,

Your house is on fire and your children have flown,

All except one, and that's little Anne.

For she is under the warming pan.