Inviting Bugs

Huh? Invite bugs into your garden? You betcha. Now, you might be thinking, "Well yeah, I guess there are some 'good' bugs that can help" But I say this, "Don't just invite the good ones, be all inclusive and invite bad bugs as well".
Don't worry, I haven't lost it. There is a reason for doing so. To keep predatory insects coming to your garden, you will need to have a good enough supply of destructive bugs for the predatory bugs to thrive on. You might be thinking that if you don't have destructive bugs, then there would be no need for predatory bugs. However, you will always have a certain amount of destructive bugs, and you'll always be fighting with them for control of your garden, so, with that in mind, it's time to become proactive and create a safe harbor for predatory species. How do you do that? Plant complimentary plants that attract them. Mints (Catnip, Peppermint, spearmint) and flowers such as Daisy and chamomile, will attract predatory insects such as wasps, hover flies and robber flies that love nothing more than to munch on aphids, mealybugs, and such. Fennel, coriander, Angelica, wild carrot and dill, all attract parasitic wasps that love to dine on moth, beetle and fly larvae. Allowing a couple of your cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bok choy to flower will attract predatory insects.
Following is a small incomplete list of beneficial insects and the destructive bugs that they help to control:
1: Aphidius, Aphidoletes, and lacewing help to control aphids- plant Achillea filipendulina, sunflower and lupine to attract them
2: Beneficial mites help to control thripes, spider mites and fungus gnats- plant Shasta daisy.
3: Ground beetles help control Slugs, small caterpillars and grubs- plant amaranthus to attract them. They need low to the ground cover plants like thyme, rosemary, or mint to shield them during the day.
4: Tachinid flies help control Caterpillars; beetle and fly larvae- plant lemon balm and parsley to attract them.
5: Lady bugs and lacewing feed on mites, aphids, scale and other soft bodied insects- plant Achillea filipendulina, Dill, Angelica gigas, Convolvulus minor, Cosmos bipinnatus, Queen Anne's lace, fennel and tansy.
6: Damsel bugs (Nabidae) are a good bug to attract as they eat many soft eggs of destructive bugs- plant fennel.
7: Pirate bugs love Thrips, aphids, mites, scales, whiteflies- plant sunflower, Shasta Daisies, and Helianthus annulus.
That about wraps it up. Remember, introduce plenty of Nematodes, plant small islands of the above plants to attract beneficial bugs, and use super-lightweight plant covers and you'll be well on your way to a much healthier garden.