How Do You Attract Parasitic Wasps To A Garden?
Many gardeners associate wasps with the aggressive stinging insects that build mud or paper nests under the eaves of our homes. However, there are dozens of species of wasps eager to rid our gardens of caterpillars, aphids and cockroaches. Attract these beneficial parasitic wasps to your garden for free, natural pest control. Include plants with small, shallow flowers to supplement the diet of nectar-loving parasitic wasps. You can plant sweet alyssum in your flower garden, parsley in your herb garden and carrots in your vegetable garden. Reduce or eliminate the use of chemical pesticides in your garden. Even organically accepted sprays, like insect soap or pyrethrin, can damage the soft bodies of parasitic wasps. Plant a cover crop instead of using mulch in your orchard or vegetable garden. You can plant buckwheat or hairy vetch to attract the Braconid wasp, which feasts on aphids and caterpillars. Provide a windbreak to shelter parasitic wasps as they hover above your garden, searchi
