redeeming the 'olivarda'
i have added different animals that protect fruit trees, thanks to this article talking about a very useful plant to keep around the garden (even if controlled):
https://web.archive.org/web/20150102072301/http://www.plantarteentuoasis.com:80/2013/12/olivarda-mosquera-pulguera-dittrichia-inula-viscosa-usos-propiedades-medicinal-asociacion-cultivos-insecticida.html
This plant attracts many beneficial insects to the garden, giving them protection during the winter so they are ready to attack the fruit fly and the red mites in the spring.
Added: Nesidiocoris tenuis, género Dicyphus, Macrolophus caliginosus, Eupelmus urozonus.
Comments
Great project idea! Please add Daddy-Long-Legs or Harvestmen (Opiliones) to your list.
ok! added the Opiliones, that eat detritus and insects. Thanks for the recommendation! keep them coming!
Great! What about including certain bird species? Once I had a dove stop by to eat snails off an ornamental plant. Some birds get rid of garden pests.
sure, birds are important. i have added the genus parus because they are insectivores
also my favorite helper https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13094-Erithacus-rubecula - European Robin. A truly friend in the garden, will come by to visit once in a while, happy to get any earthworm you give itl
In Catalonia they call them 'caga-mánecs'- 'handle-shitters', because they will stand in the handles of tools and shit. Ey, I'm being scientific!
Too amusing! It certainly describes where robins can go to get worms, but unless we live on farms we don’t think about that. When I was growing up I was told “The early bird gets the worm” to motivate me. The idiom didn’t say where the bird (robin) went to get the worm.
I have also added a snail (go figure!), which is around here, and eats other snails and slugs: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/125669-Rumina-decollata
It has been introduced in the US but is native from the Mediterranean.
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