Insects You Should Avoid Killing At All Costs

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Most would prefer not to turn their home into an all-exclusive insect hotel. Similarly, seeing bugs crawling around your garden can be concerning. However, many creepy crawlies can benefit your home and garden by helping to fight unwanted and damage-causing pests. For example, spiders (though technically arachnids and not insects) can be beneficial to have indoors. Most house spider species are harmless to humans and only want to bite and feed on smaller prey like ants, moths, and other household pests. Likewise, several types of insects, though they may creep you out, won't cause any harm to you or your home's structure.

Though you don't want to kill every bug that crosses your path, it doesn't mean you must let them take over. If you notice a surplus of insects sneaking in, it's a good idea to start taking preventative measures. Search and fill in any cracks where tiny intruders can get through. Eliminate food sources by properly storing and promptly removing trash and keeping food items in airtight containers. Avoid leaving standing water in your home and garden. Birdbaths, puddles, pet bowls, and other sources allow nuisances like mosquitos to lay eggs. Even with safeguards, it isn't impossible to cross paths with a bug or two in an otherwise perfectly tidy home. However, before you reach for your pesticide bottle, first ensure you familiarize yourself with the species you're dealing with. Here are nine insects you should avoid killing at all costs.

Centipedes may look like something out of a horror movie, but are they really as bad as they seem? These leggy creatures can be jarring to look at, so most people's first instinct is to remove them from their homes immediately. However, if you can get past their unsightly appearance, you may want to reconsider squishing centipedes and instead let them share your living space. They won't snack on any food you leave out, but instead, they will spend most of their time hunting small pests like ants, termites, and some spider species. Additionally, those living outside won't eat any of your garden crops; they'd rather feed on bugs that cause damage to your plants. So they can be helpful little garden buddies. House centipedes don't create nests, destroy fabric, or cause any structural damage. They typically don't bite and will run away from humans, though they may lash down if feeling cornered.

They come inside to protect themselves from the cold environs and lay their eggs — peak centipede season is usually in spring and autumn. If you decide you don't want to be housemates with a centipede, there are ways to prevent them from coming into your house. House centipedes usually make their home in damp areas like crawl spaces, basements, and bathrooms. Seal any crevices in your basement walls and install a screen in any floor drains to keep them from coming through dry sump pumps. Encourage outdoor centipedes to help tend to your garden by providing plenty of moist soil and shady areas with compost, logs, and rocks.

Although honey bees have stingers, they aren't as big of a threat as you may think. Honey bees are vital for pollinating crops and flowers, so killing them ultimately hurts the ecosystem. If bees become extinct, the plants they pollinate will also die, eliminating food sources and habitats for millions of species. This seemingly small change could make the food network fall apart, creating a domino effect that would eventually destroy our planet. Currently, bee populations are decreasing at frightening rates. So go easy on them if you see them — seeing our fuzzy, black-and-yellow-striped friends buzzing around the garden is a sign that it's thriving, so it's best to let them enjoy their lunch. Despite misconceptions, honey bees are relatively docile and will likely only sting when they feel threatened.

While having pollinators in your yard is one thing, having them in your home isn't ideal for anyone. You'll want to get the honey bees outside while causing the least harm possible. If there are only a couple of bees, you can use a bug vacuum to suck them up before freeing them outdoors, preferably by nectar-rich plants, so they can buzz on their way and return home. An infestation can be a bit trickier to manage and is better handled by a professional. However, rather than calling an exterminator, contact a beekeeper who can safely relocate them. To keep honey bees thriving in your garden, you can purchase a bee hotel like this one from Amazon — just make sure there are plenty of flowers for food nearby.

Saying that ground beetles aren't the cutest insect would be an understatement. Their cockroach-like appearance unsettles many homeowners, making it hard to resist the urge to grab the Raid. However, ground beetles are handy little bugs to have in your garden, as they help keep snails and slugs out of your garden. They also hunt for common plant enemies like aphids and help keep the soil healthy for crops and flowers. Although a bit creepy, they're more of a nuisance than anything when indoors. They don't destroy buildings and won't reproduce inside your home. They may pinch if mishandled, but they otherwise won't unless provoked.

Rather than trying to terminate any ground beetles in your garden, do what you can to encourage them to stay and help control pests. Add leaf litter, rocks, or mulch to give them a place to hide and rest during the day. Consider placing a small dish of water near the area to provide them with some moisture if you have a particularly dry garden. Reduce pesticide use if you see beetles or other garden-friendly bugs, and opt for more natural pest control remedies. Since beetles aren't colony insects, it's unlikely to have more than a few at a time in your home. To remove them, you can use the same container and paper capturing method as we discussed with praying mantises. If there is a swarm of them, then are you sure they aren't cockroaches? At that point, you probably need to hire an exterminator.

People sometimes confuse hoverflies for wasps since they're about the same size and have similar color patterns. However, these wasp lookalikes are another essential pollinator and a friend you want to have in your garden. Although the adults eat mostly nectar, their larvae feed on pests like thrips and aphids as their main food source. Despite their appearance, they cannot sting at all and are entirely harmless to humans. The easiest way to differentiate hoverflies from their stinging counterparts is by looking at the wings. They only have two wings with the same shape as other flies within their family, while wasps have four wings.

One of the best ways to benefit the ecosystem and attract pollinating insects like hoverflies is to plant a wide variety of brightly colored and nectar-rich blooms. Avoid using harsh chemicals on your crops, as they harm all insects, not just pests. Neem oil is one of the best natural pest control products on the market because it helps rid plants of damaging insects but doesn't harm pollinators.