If you look up the word “insectary” in Merriam Webster, it notes that it is “a place for the keeping or rearing of live insects.” But after visiting two thriving examples in real life, Benziger Family Winery and Lotusland, I realized that the dictionary definition is stagnant, uncolorful, and not very buzzy and fluttery. I also learned that an insectary does more than just raise insects: It gifts an abundance of sights and sounds and movement, too—plus, it’s quite vital to a happy ecosystem.

Please keep reading to learn more about an insectary.

What actually is an ‘insectary’?

An insectary is a diverse collection of choice plants that attract, feed and harbor beneficial, predatory insects such as ladybugs and lacewings that help repel and manage harmful bugs such as aphids. Plus, insectary plants help capture nutrients from the soil and create a diverse ecosystem.

How is an insectary different from a pollinator garden?

While a pollinator garden is helpful and attractive, providing a buffet for all insects, an insectary focuses on attracting helpful workhorse predators on bugs that wreak havoc on your garden. For example, a pollinator garden might attract butterflies and hummingbirds, which are my favorites, but these beauties don’t eat thrip and white flies.

Why create an insectary?

Attracting an assortment of good bugs to aid in pest control helps reduce work in the garden by managing destructive invaders and hopefully eliminating the need for chemicals. By planting with diversity in mind, you are providing food and shelter for beneficial creatures, including migratory birds of prey. When your plants mature and resident populations move in for good, your garden will become a more balanced and healthy environment. The other excellent benefits include lower water use because you will be embracing drought tolerant native plants, better flower and crop production, and lastly, healthy plants not affected by pests and disease can sequester carbon more effectively.

How do you create an insectary garden?

An insectary garden is a long-term commitment, as the results are cumulative and not instantaneous. It can be as large or as small as your garden space allows, just as long as your plot can hold about eight varieties of plants with different or overlapping bloom times. Use only organic fertilizers—never toxic chemicals—cover with mulch, and add compost when needed. Corey Welles, Sustainability Manager at Lotusland shares, “The recipe Lotusland uses for homes, botanic gardens, or large estates is basically: 1: pure natives strategically placed in hedge rows around a property (major cost savings and huge ecological services). 2: 50/50 natives and select non-natives closer to the house. 3: fancy-schmancy ornamentals carefully clustered for focal points or other ornamental elements. This recipe can be customized for any size house.”

What plants are good for an insectary?

Vitex agnus-castus: According to Corey, “Although it’s not a native California plant, Vitex brings in all the best butterflies and beneficial insects. It’s tough, takes radical pruning, plus likes deep and infrequent water.”

Borage: This multitasking plant attracts beneficial bees and wasps and adds trace elements to the soil. Bonus: The blue flowers are edible. Borage is an annual but readily reseeds itself so you will definitely have more next year.

Achillea: This favorite sunny border plant attracts all sorts of helpful flying friends, from butterflies to lacewings and ladybugs. Tall, flat flower clusters are also great in fresh or dried arrangements.

Cosmos: A charming flower that attracts lacewings, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps.

Cilantro: If you let this herb go to flower, you will witness a plethora of predators visiting this plant.

Sunflower: This stately flower attracts beneficial aphidus, pirate bugs, and parasitic wasps. Did you know that you can plant sunflowers to lure aphids away from other plants? Ants will pack up and move their colonies to sunflowers with little to no damage.

Members of the mint family: Sages and lavender have short nectar-producing flowers that make them more accessible to pollinators with short mouthparts such as native bees.

See also:

• The Garden Decoder: What Is ‘Integrated Pest Management’?
• Trap Crops: The Best Plants to Grow to Keep Pests Away from Your Vegetables
• 10 Ideas to Steal from Organic Gardens Around the World