Insects that are a sign of a thriving garden
Rather than something to eliminate, many insects indicate that your soil, plants and microclimate are in balance. Knowing which insects are signs of health, why they matter and how they support your garden helps replace anxiety with understanding and reaction with observation.
Native Bees
Native bees are visitors you might miss. Many are small and solitary but their presence is one of the strongest indicators that a garden is doing well.
Why they’re good
Australia is home to more than 1,700 native bee species, many of which are closely tied to native plants. Their presence suggests your garden provides reliable nectar and pollen and hasn’t been overly disturbed. Many native Australian bees are now considered vulnerable due to habitat loss, competition from introduced species and environmental change, so gardens rich in flowering natives provide vital refuges for them.
What they do and how they help your garden
As native bees move between flowers collecting nectar and pollen, they transfer pollen that enables fertilisation. This supports flowering, seed production and overall plant health. Because many native bees forage close to home, regular visits also signal that your garden offers shelter and nesting opportunities, not just food.
Ladybirds (and Their Larvae)
Ladybirds are one of the few insects almost everyone is happy to see in the garden. They are one of the most helpful insects you can have, but it’s their larvae — which look nothing like the adults — that do most of the work.
Why they’re good
Ladybirds are a real sign of balance in a garden. Their presence usually means pest populations exist at manageable levels and that predators are present to regulate them.
What they do and how they help your garden
Ladybird larvae feed almost exclusively on aphids and other soft-bodied insects that damage new growth. By reducing pest numbers naturally, they prevent outbreaks before plants become stressed. When ladybirds are present, intervention is rarely necessary.
Lacewings
Lacewings are easy to overlook, but they’re powerful allies in the garden. Their delicate appearance hides how effective they are.
Why they’re good
Lacewings tend to appear in gardens that support multiple life stages and haven’t been heavily sprayed. Their presence often indicates a stable, functioning ecosystem.
What they do and how they help your garden
Adult lacewings feed on nectar and pollen, while their larvae are active predators of aphids, mites and small caterpillars. This two-stage role allows lacewings to support flowering plants while regulating pest populations.
Butterflies and Moths
Butterflies are active during the day and do much of the visible pollinating, while moths take over at night, visiting flowers that open or release scent after dark. Because moths work quietly and out of sight, their contribution is often overlooked, despite being essential to a healthy garden ecosystem.
Why they’re good
Seeing butterflies and moths regularly suggests your garden provides more than flowers. It also offers host plants, shelter and enough tolerance for insects to complete their life cycle.
What they do and how they help your garden
Adult butterflies and moths pollinate plants as they feed. Their caterpillars, while sometimes causing leaf damage, are a vital food source for birds and other wildlife. This activity strengthens the food web and contributes to long-term balance.
Hoverflies
Hoverflies are often mistaken for small wasps, but they’re easy to identify once you know what to look for. They can hover almost motionless in the air before darting away, and unlike bees or wasps, they have only one pair of wings. They’re harmless, don’t sting, and are commonly seen hovering over open, daisy-like flowers on warm days.
Why they’re good
Hoverflies rely on both flowers and pest insects to survive, so their presence usually signals a balanced garden with diverse plantings.
What they do and how they help your garden
Adult hoverflies are effective pollinators, especially for open, daisy-like flowers. Their larvae feed on aphids in large numbers, often reducing infestations quickly without any intervention.
Beetles (Especially Ground Beetles)
Beetles are often unseen, but they play an essential role in garden health, particularly below the surface. Unlike many insects that wait passively, ground beetles actively hunt. Many species can run surprisingly quickly and will pursue prey rather than ambush it.
Why they’re good
A diversity of beetles usually points to healthy soil, organic matter and moisture retention. Ground beetles in particular are strong indicators of a functioning ecosystem and low-intervention gardening.
What they do and how they help your garden
Ground beetles live in leaf litter, mulch and soil, hunting at night for slugs, snails, caterpillars and other pests. Other beetles help break down organic material, recycling nutrients back into the soil. Together, they improve soil structure, fertility and plant resilience.
Ants (in Moderation)
Ants often cause concern, but a steady presence is usually normal and beneficial. Ants become a problem only when another imbalance is present. Heavy activity around plants often signals sap-sucking pests or plant stress rather than an issue with the ants themselves.
Why they’re good
Ants are part of living soil systems. In moderation, they indicate active, aerated soil rather than a problem.
What they do and how they help your garden
As ants tunnel through soil, they improve drainage and aeration and help redistribute organic material and nutrients. Problems generally arise only when conditions are out of balance, such as extreme dryness or heavy pest infestations.
How to encourage beneficial insects
Encouraging beneficial insects isn’t about adding products or building elaborate structures — it’s mostly about how you garden day to day. A diverse range of flowering plants, particularly natives, provides ongoing food sources through nectar and pollen, especially when bloom times overlap across seasons. Leaving leaf litter where appropriate, along with fallen branches or logs, creates shelter, moisture retention and nesting opportunities for insects that live and hunt close to the ground.
Avoiding pesticides is one of the most effective choices you can make. Even occasional spraying can disrupt the delicate balance between pests and predators, often removing the insects that would naturally regulate problems over time. Providing shallow water during hot weather such as a dish with stones for landing can also make a surprising difference, particularly in summer.
Most importantly, resist the urge to over-tidy. Gardens that are slightly imperfect tend to support far more life than those kept spotless. When you allow plants to flower fully, leave stems standing and let organic material return to the soil, you create the conditions beneficial insects need to arrive and stay, creating a garden that regulates itself.
Bugs to watch out for
Some insects can become problematic when plants are stressed or when balance is disrupted. Aphids tend to target soft, fast-growing new growth and can weaken plants if numbers build up, often appearing when plants are overfed or overwatered.
Scale and mealybugs attach themselves to stems and leaves, feeding on sap and slowly draining plant energy; their presence is commonly linked to poor airflow or ongoing plant stress.
Snails and slugs can damage seedlings and tender new growth, particularly in consistently damp conditions where heavy mulch or wet soil provides ideal shelter. Caterpillars, while an important part of the ecosystem, can also overwhelm young or stressed plants if populations become too high — though in well-balanced gardens, birds usually regulate their numbers naturally.
When beneficial insects are present, they support plant health, soil life and natural balance in ways no product can replicate. If insects are arriving and staying, it’s usually because your garden is offering what nature needs.
