Minibeasts in your garden

www.naturalengland.org.uk Minibeasts in your garden

By far the most numerous and diverse of , on the planet and in the garden, are the minibeasts – invertebrates. They include , snails, woodlice, worms, millepedes and , false scorpions, mites, earthworms and, of course, the ever-abundant .

Sycamore caterpillar.

Gardens are ideal for minibeasts, often full of useful microhabitats such as ponds, compost heaps, rockeries, flower borders and shrubberies that mimic good examples of natural habitats. Unlike much of the countryside, gardens provide a continuous habitat, separated only by hedges and fences and are havens for our smaller wildlife. Some species, such as the impressive stag beetle, are now commoner in gardens than in the wider countryside.

Gardens can be ideal homes for minibeasts.

2 3 Minibeasts are fascinating and beautiful creatures. Encouraging and studying them in the garden makes a real contribution to their conservation and is an educational – and highly enjoyable – pursuit that brings a wider understanding of how the living world works.

Food plants – minibeast General purple and gold moth. restaurants and cafés gardens and it’s worth increasing the Many minibeasts eat the leaves, value of the garden to them by stems, flowers, even the wood of cultivating the plants they can use, garden plants. Most simply make the while avoiding those that attract odd hole in a leaf here and there, pests. mine the occasional stem or suck a little sap and are not really a Native or not?

Cardinal beetle. nuisance. Lots of attractive , , bugs and beetles take Most books on gardening for wildlife Thousands of minibeast species world. They pollinate crops and advantage of the plants in our stress the need for native plant inhabit gardens and it is easy to find flowers, tidy up the remains of dead species to attract scores in a single day. A fifteen-year plants and animals, and are vital links insects. While study of a typical Leicester garden in the food-chains that support other this is sound, it’s found over 2,100 species. Some favourite garden animals – the birds, not necessary to turned up only very occasionally, but mammals, amphibians and reptiles. fill your garden others were long-time residents. with wildflowers to encourage Sadly, some people don’t appreciate attractive plant- the wealth of wildlife on their eating species. doorstep, thinking of minibeasts with You can still be a fear and revulsion, or consider all of plant enthusiast – them as pests. However, only a tiny or use most handful of creatures bite or sting, or ordinary garden ravage our plants and it is these that plants – and still have given the rest a bad name. have a host of interesting Minibeasts are vital in the smooth minibeasts in the running of both the garden and the Cucumber . Shield bug. garden.

4 5 Many garden plants are closely on herbaceous plants, and some on the local authority to leave them for related to our native wild plants and grasses. Some minibeasts are, the butterflies. are equally acceptable as food plants, however, highly fussy, eating only a despite their garden pedigree and few or even a single species of plants. It can be fun to grow a particular For example, native plant (or a closely related brimstone species) that supports a wide variety of species and see what turns up. caterpillars feed Good plants to try are bird’s-foot- only on trefoil, verbascums, figworts, birches, buckthorns, willows and poplars (remember that which are rarely the last two make sizable trees so be grown in careful where you put them). gardens; and small tortoiseshell and peacock caterpillars and a Peacock caterpillars on nettles. host of other species, feed only Not every gardener wants lots of Picture-winged fly. on nettles. nettles and it’s worth bearing in mind that the butterflies only use nettles in showy flowers. Generally, the more Where a plant grows in the garden full sunshine. Keeping that nettle similar a plant is to our native species’ can be very influential. As a rule, patch in the shady area behind the Peacock butterfly. growth-form and leaf texture, the more minibeasts prefer food plants garden shed more likely it is to support plant- growing in sunshine than in shade won’t do – you eating insects. Exotic plants, perhaps and plants at the very edge of the will need to with thick waxy leaves, dense woolly border or shrubbery are favourites. sacrifice a prime hairs or strong-smelling foliage, are bit of sunny less likely to support many species, border if you though there are often surprises as to want butterflies who will eat what! to breed on them. An alternative Generalists and specialists might be to check out the local area Many plant-eating insects are – there are ‘generalists’, feeding on a wide variety usually patches of plants, usually of a particular of nettles around growth form. Some feed mostly on somewhere – and the foliage of shrubs or trees, others Mullein moth caterpillar. then persuade Figwort sawfly. 6 7 Flowers – minibeast bars

Probably the most valuable feature of gardens for the most numerous minibeasts – the insects – is an abundance of flowers.

Crab spider – these often ‘mug’ visitors to flowers.

After all, flowers evolved specifically to attract insects – nectar is many insects’ main energy source and protein in pollen is vital in the production of their eggs. Regardless of what they eat as larvae, many adult insects visit flowers as their only source of food. Others use flowers as territory markers or meeting and mating places, or even lairs from which to catch other flower-visiting species. Some crab spiders, for example, ‘mug’ unsuspecting visitors, changing their colour to match that of the flower.

Example of good garden border.

8 9 What sort of particularly good. There are similar drone flies, small tortoiseshell and structured flowers in many families brimstone butterflies rely on late- flowers are best for and it soon becomes easy to get the flowering Michaelmas daisies (asters), ‘jizz’ of what is likely to be a good ice plants and ivies. On emerging in minibeasts? insect plant. early spring, these same insects use early-flowering hellebores, narcissi, Open structures Tubes for doronicums, viburnums and Prunus species such as the early flowering, Most insects are attracted to flowers Tubular or bell-shaped flowers cater cherries, cherry-plum etc (single- with an open, flat structure that allows for a more specialised clientele. flowered varieties only – see above). access to the nectar without the need Snapdragons, foxgloves, penstemons, Blackthorn is often not suitable for for specialised mouthparts. campanulas, ericas, and members of the garden as it suckers too much. the pea and mint families such as Thick-legged flower beetle on geranium. broom, clover, lavenders, Lamium and moths and many other insects. (dead nettles) and Prunella (selfheal) Buddleias, valerians, hebes, mints and species are all excellent for attracting marjoram, and the whole of the daisy bumblebees, solitary bees and the family are excellent. Daisies provide domestic honey . While most an open ‘landing stage’ of petals and bees also visit the more open flowers, the central ‘button’ provides nectar some specialise in tubular flowers. over quite a long period. Especially valuable are achilleas, goldenrods, A mixture asters, and almost anything with the ‘typical’ daisy structure. Soldier beetle. Some plants mass together lots of tiny tubular flowers into one large bloom, Beware of doubles! Particularly valuable are plants in the providing a whole carpet of nectar Nectaring insects on ivy. rose family. The best roses are open- sources, much loved by butterflies Don’t fill the garden with cultivars of flowered, single varieties, but the ‘double’ flowering or ‘flore pleno’ A nectar surprise family also includes hawthorns, crab varieties. While attractive, few of apples, potentillas, and whitebeam these provide nectar and pollen, and Some garden plants provide nectar in (Sorbus) species including rowan, what little there is may be difficult for surprising places – a cherry-laurel can together with the various insects to get to amongst the mass of swarm with nectaring insects, even blackberry/raspberry (Rubus) species. doubled-up petals. when not in flower. Look carefully The saxifrage family, such as underneath younger leaves for ‘extra- saxifrages, heucheras and astilbes, Flowers through the year floral nectaries’. These are small green the stonecrop family (ice-plant and pads at the base of the leaf veins that other Sedum species), and umbellifers Aim to provide a good variety of attract ants, parasitic wasps and flies in such as angelica, lovage, fennel (and flowers throughout most of the year. particular, and help protect the plant bolted carrots and parsnips), are also Bumblebee on selfheal. Overwintering queen bumblebees, from leaf-eating insects. 10 11 Cover – minibeast stems are all good hideaway places. Think ‘minibeast’ before tidying the hide & seek dead material away and keep some throughout the winter.

Most garden minibeasts need Winter retreats somewhere to hide at certain times, either to sleep, escape from predators Many minibeasts hibernate, and cover or shelter from the rain or sun. is essential for them to overwinter successfully in our gardens. Stones, Cover is very important so don’t be bits of wood, loose bark, fissured bark too tidy in the garden. Dense on older trees (the flaky bark of old vegetation, tussocky grasses or sedges apple trees is excellent) – anything that and plants with a ‘rosette’ of leaves creatures can get into or underneath is that minibeasts can get beneath; all valuable, as is a cool winter-time Lesser marsh grasshopper. offer good retreats. Dead leaves, grass compost heap. Evergreens with tightly thatch, old seed heads and hollow packed leaves or needles provide overwintering places, as does a good cover of ivy on a wall or tree. Some minibeasts overwinter deep in the dead seed heads of flowering plants, so you can help them by waiting till late spring or even early summer before cutting seed heads back.

Some butterflies, moths, lacewings, ladybirds, droneflies, queen bumblebees, wasps and hornets seek Moulting . out cool, undisturbed spots to pass the winter. They may come indoors, to sheds, garages or unheated spare rooms. If disturbed, or they become too warm, they may wake and rapidly use up their energy reserves: if this happens it is unlikely they will make it through the winter. If you do need to heat somewhere that has overwintering minibeasts, try moving them to another cool, protected location, disturbing them as little as spider and pill woodlouse. Hibernating herald moth. possible.

12 13 Hot-spots – Sun-baked bare surfaces minibeast sun- Any bare ground, bathers rock or wood in full sunshine Minibeasts are, almost without rapidly warms up exception, ‘cold blooded’. This does and may be 10oC not mean they work at lower body hotter than areas temperatures than us – some actually with plants. Bare Wolf spider with egg ball. have a higher temperature than we soil in the do. It means that they cannot sunshine. Little warm spots in the vegetable patch, Basking ruby-tail wasp. generate their own body heat like we garden are therefore vital for concrete paths, do and they must get their body heat minibeasts. They need not be very rockery rocks, house or shed walls – from external sources, usually from large – but they are very important. especially when facing roughly south – are regular sunbathing spots for minibeasts that need to warm up before they can get on with their daily lives. Particularly useful are those that warm up quickly in the morning, allowing minibeasts an early start. Other predatory minibeasts take advantage of these sunbathers. These predators are fast, have prominent Ground beetle. jaws and large eyes with good 3-D vision. They are the big cats of the Sun-traps minibeast world – a stealthy approach followed by a fast dash across an Other useful hot spots are sun-traps open space to catch unwary prey. within the shrubbery or herbaceous border, especially if amongst nectar flowers. Gaps or indentations along the edges, especially south-facing ones, create shelter from cool winds.

Try and make sure that the garden offers plenty of little hot-spots throughout the day in a variety of situations. These are often the best Bare soil and stone is a habitat in its own right. Basking red admiral butterfly. places for minibeast watching.

14 15 Deadstuff – Exit holes of wood-boring beetles are often used as nests by solitary bees, minibeasts and as well as small solitary wasps that stock their nests with aphids, plant- decay hoppers or weevils. Related species nest in broken hollow plant stems. Minibeasts are nature’s ‘clean-up gang’, working with fungi to clear Fallen wood lying on the soil is usually away dead plants; everything from damp, with active fungi, and may be fallen leaves to tree trunks, and return St Mark’s fly in compost heap. home to minibeasts such as lesser them to the soil. A well-made stag, rhinoceros and longhorn beetles. Leaving dead plant material to decay compost heap teems with life and is In the south , there may also be the away naturally greatly increases the excellent for minibeast watching. huge stag beetle itself – a species for diversity of creatures in your garden. If which England is internationally you find it unsightly, hide fallen leaves important and which is a frequent Habitat pile of dead wood. and plant litter into ‘habitat piles’, but garden inhabitant. try and leave some where it lies on the soil. You can make special habitat piles of dead wood for these species. Big is Dead wood beautiful – go for branches or trunks in preference to twigs. It’s best to site Decaying dead wood attracts a whole these at the edge of a shady area or in suite of minibeasts, often highly dappled sunshine (but not in full sun) colourful, especially beetles and Woodlouse. to get a good balance of warmth and hoverflies. Some moisture – it should never be allowed use dead wood to dry out. Lesser stag beetle. while it is still attached to the living tree. Unless actually diseased (which is not the same as decaying!) there’s usually no need to remove this dead wood unless it’s likely to be a safety hazard when it eventually falls. Devil’s coach horse beetle. Little mournful wasp outside its burrow. Wasp beetle.

16 17 The garden pond – minibeast beach, pool and watering hole

A garden pond hugely increases the attractiveness of the garden for minibeasts. Even a very small water body will very quickly bring additional species. However, do try and make your pond as large as you can (while keeping it safe if you have young children). The larger the pond, the greater the variety of different minibeast microhabitats there can be.

Doli fly.

The pond edge

Go for an edge that provides a mixture of cover and open ground. Positioning plants so that those in the water gently mingle with those in a neighbouring border allows

A good garden pond. Sue Ellis

18 19 Pond plants Emergent plants – ones that root underwater but grow though the Go for a good mixture of floating, surface – are vital for minibeasts. submerged and emerging species. Many pond-dwellers, such as Submerged plants with finely dragonflies, damselflies, alderflies dissected (frilly) leaves such as and mayflies, need an emerging stem milfoil, hornwort, starwort and water that will let them climb out of the violet are good oxygenators and water before turning into adults. provide underwater cover and Evidence is easily found in the ghost-

hunting grounds for aquatic like empty skins of larvae sometimes Alder fly. minibeasts like water beetles, found still clinging to emergent dragonfly larvae and water spiders. plants. The process of a fish as they reduce the numbers of Water beetle. Floating plants also provide cover, moulting into an adult is fascinating minibeasts in the pond by eating minibeasts to come and go in safety, prevent the water going green, and to watch. them, and bottom-grubbers stir up while open areas allow them to provide ‘platforms’ on which the sediment, making the water sunbathe and hunt. Try to keep small, minibeasts can sunbathe, hunt and Beware of aliens! cloudy. If there really is plenty of gently-sloping muddy or sandy mate – and a few are good food weedy cover in the pond, then ‘beaches’ free of plants. A host of plants too. Caterpillars of brown and Avoid invasive alien plants like minibeasts can just about cope with small creatures will use them to white china-mark moths feed on parrot’s feather Myriophyllum a few fish, but go for sticklebacks sunbathe and hunt over, including various floating plants, and common aquaticum, New Zealand pygmyweed (which will help stop mosquitoes green ‘doli’ flies, ground and rove waterweed Potamogeton natans is Crassula helmsii (sometimes sold as breeding in your pond), rather than beetles and wolf spiders. Solitary bees the food plant of an attractive Tillaea recurva) and floating goldfish, tench or carp. and wasps may collect mud on these bronze and silver ‘reed’ beetle. pennywort Hydrocotyle ‘beaches’ to cap ranunculoides. They may seem ideal off their nests. as minibeast habitat but will take over your pond and all too easily escape If your pond into the wild, where they do plants are too incalculable damage to native rampant, then try wildlife habitats. making a beach out of coarse Water depth and fish sterile shingle or gravel. Different A pond doesn’t need to be minibeasts will particularly deep for minibeasts. live on that Indeed, shallow water is warmer and compared with better for most species. Large areas of those using open water are far too hazardous for sand/mud, so most species on the look-out for why not try both? Reed beetles. predators. Think before introducing Pond skater.

20 21 Learning to live with pests They are valuable Pests – minibeasts predators of we love to hate There are, however, plenty of species many pest of slugs, snails, caterpillars, aphids, species but are A fairly small number of minibeasts bugs, flea beetles, weevils, chafers, also sometimes gives the rest a bad name by eating wireworms, leatherjackets and many an intolerable the plants we like to grow in our others that do make themselves (and sometimes gardens. pretty unwelcome, even to the most dangerous) wildlife-friendly gardener. The trick is nuisance to our to work out what is tolerable – enjoyment of the something that is likely to be different garden. Whether for each garden and gardener. A to live with a whole plant reduced to a stump is wasps’ nest in the unlikely to be tolerated, but it’s easy garden or to get Lily beetle. to train yourself to overlook the odd in professional hole in the edge of a leaf or end of a wildlife gardener may wish to wage help to eradicate it (never try it shoot spun together with silk. war against a particularly difficult yourself) is an individual choice, outbreak. Try organic pesticides such depending on the position of the nest What about the really pesky pests? as soft soap and plant-derived and the danger to people and pets. chemicals that are short lasting, Large red slug. There are several options. The easiest is simply not to grow those plants though they are toxic to nearly all Bumblebees and solitary bees (and A word in their defence… that you have found to be especially minibeasts – friend and foe alike. domestic honeybees) are far less vulnerable. For example, growing lots Whenever pesticides are used, always aggressive, and gardens are now Gardening books and pesticide of hostas in a shady damp garden on be ultra-careful to avoid any ‘drifting’ important habitats for them. Only adverts demonise pests as ravening clay soil is just asking for trouble from away from the target and killing consider having a bumblebee nest hoards of malevolent creatures, bent slugs. Planting ‘cottage garden’ style harmless or beneficial species. In removed if it is very close to a on destruction. But think ‘minibeast’ in a jumble of varieties is likely to particular, avoid using chemicals children’s play area. for a moment – they are just doing reduce the effects of pests, whose anywhere near the garden pond, as what comes naturally and taking numbers build up more easily in large aquatic species are especially advantage of lots of their food plants, swathes of a single species. vulnerable. It is possible to buy grown close together, often varieties ‘biological control agents’ to reduce that we have bred to be particularly Chemical warfare – pesticides pest numbers, though most work well succulent or tasty. No wonder they only in confined places such as move in and multiply – we’ve just It is easy to preach against the use of greenhouses. provided their favourite restaurant so chemicals, and the fully organic can we really blame them? Pests are garden is likely to be best for Wasps and bees really only species whose food plants minibeasts. There are, however, we have chosen to grow, and this has occasions when pests do overstep The black and yellow social wasps led to conflict. the mark and even the keenest that can sting are a mixed blessing. Queen dark wasp.

22 23 Beneficial species – Pleasure from minibeasts we minibeasts – should love studying them in

Rather than using pesticides, try to your garden control pests by making your garden Being right on the doorstep – ‘predator-friendly’. Home for mason bees. Deb Proctor sometimes literally – means that

minibeasts can be studied much Mother of pearl moth. Minibeast homes more closely than larger animals. Handbooks series (Richmond Press) By far the best way to encourage gives ideas for activities on a wide minibeasts to live in your garden is to variety of invertebrate groups, from garden for their needs, providing ladybirds and ground beetles to cover, nectar, decaying plant material animals under stones and logs, and and nesting sites. insects and nettles.

You can also, however, buy – or Standing by an outside light on a Seven-spot ladybird. better still, make – structures to warm, muggy, moonless night to see encourage them to stay in the garden. Sexton beetle. what turns up for a couple of hours Ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies There are artificial bumblebee nests, a after sunset is an effective way of eat aphids. Ground and rove beetles They can be watched going about bit like inverted ceramic plant pots, finding nocturnal minibeasts you tackle slugs and caterpillars, while their private lives in the garden, or which can be stuffed with soft dead would not usually encounter. Lots of various spiders and parasitic wasps brought indoors in transparent tubes grass for nesting material. A piece of moths, lacewings, caddisflies, beetles, and flies limit the numbers of most or bug boxes to be studied with a wood drilled with variously sized craneflies, ichneumon wasps and other minibeasts. Providing cover and magnifying glass. The Naturalists’ holes makes nest sites for solitary many more night-flying insects will nectar sources encourages predators bees and wasps, as does a series of turn up. Ground beetles, harvestmen, and parasitic species to live in the hollow bamboo tubes crammed into orb-web and jumping spiders will garden and cuts down the numbers a frame, mimicking the ends of also emerge to capture prey that has of pests. broken stems. There are also ladybird been attracted to the light. and lacewing ‘hibernacula’, similar to bird boxes, where they (and other Minibeasts in the garden provide an species) can safely pass the winter. endless source of fascination for young Some of these work better than and old. What better way of imbuing others and don’t be too disappointed an interest and respect for the living if the local bumblebees ignore your world than by encouraging children to

customised home and move in under Minibeast spotting. satisfy their innate curiosity and Brown lacewing. the garden shed! Paul Glendell/Natural England enthusiasm for life by studying them? 24 25 Contacts Other titles People’s Trust for Endangered Species. Stag beetle friendly Natural England Minibeast identification gardening. 2003. 1 East Parade Sheffield, S1 2ET There are thousands of species that Ryrie, C. Wildlife gardening. Cassell. Enquiry Service: 0845 600 3078 might turn up in the garden, and no 2003. [email protected] single guide can ever be adequate. A www.naturalengland.org.uk good start is the Collins Field Guide Garden minibeast ecology series, which has volumes on insects, Hoverfly on Californian poppy. Butterfly Conservation spiders and molluscs and freshwater Chinery, M. Garden wildlife of Britain Manor Yard, Further information life. Another is: and Europe. HarperCollins. 1997. East Lulworth Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP This is one of a range of wildlife Chinery, M. Insects of Britain and Owen, J. The ecology of the garden: Tel: 0870 7744309 gardening booklets published by Western Europe. A&C Black. 2007. the first 15 years. Cambridge www.butterfly-conservation.org Natural England. For more details, University Press. 1991. contact the Natural England Enquiry Wildlife gardening for minibeasts BugLife – The Invertebrate Service on 0845 600 3078 or e-mail Studying minibeasts Conservation Trust [email protected] Baines, C. How to make a wildlife 170A Park Road, garden. Frances Lincoln. 2000. Baker, N. Nick Baker’s bug book. Peterborough, PE1 2UF Natural England also produces Discover the world of minibeasts. New Tel: 01733 201210 Gardening with wildlife in mind, an Butterfly Conservation. Gardening for Holland. 2002. www.buglife.org.uk illustrated wildlife reference. butterflies. 1991. Originally on CD but now also Imes, R. Beginner’s guide to People’s Trust for Endangered available on-line, Gardening with Species Thompson, K. No nettles required: the entomology. Chancellor Press. 2000. wildlife in mind has detailed 15 Cloisters House reassuring truth about wildlife information on 800 plants and 8 Battersea Park Road gardening. Eden Project Books. 2006. Minibeast conservation London, SW8 4BG species often found in our Tel: 020 7498 4533 gardens, and shows how they are Fellowes, M. & Callaghan, A. Garden Fry, R & Lonsdale, D. Habitat www.ptes.org ecologically linked. See entomology: the Royal Entomological conservation for invertebrates – a www.plantpress.com Society’s introduction to garden neglected green issue. The Amateur The Amateur Entomologists’ Society insects. 2003. Entomologists’ Society. 1991. PO Box 8774, London, SW7 5ZG O’Toole, C. The red mason bee. A Kirby, P. Habitat management for [email protected] practical guide to managing ‘Osmia invertebrates: a practical handbook. www.amentsoc.org rufa’ as a pollinator in gardens, JNCC/RSPB (edn 2). 2001. allotments and orchards. Osmia Royal Entomological Society Publications. 2000. [email protected] www.royensoc.co.uk Ivy provides food and shelter for many creatures.

26 27 Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings. www.naturalengland.org.uk

© Natural England 2007

ISBN 978-1-84754-013-3

Catalogue code NE22

Written by Dr Roger Key. Designed by Coral Design Management. Photography: All photographs are by Roger Key/Natural England unless stated otherwise. Front cover image: dead-nettle leaf beetle.