Predators in the Garden What are the most ferocious animal hunters you can think of Tigers Wolverines Grizzly bears Sharks What about critters that fit in the palm of your hand Many insects are powerful hunters too Insects that eat other animals are predators The creatures they eat are their prey 4
Insect predators may eat other insects or larger animals including spiders fish reptiles mammals and birds Some insects are only predators as larvae Larvae are the immature insects that hatch from eggs As adults they may eat only plants or dead animals Fly Life Cycle Pupa Eggs Adult Spiders are famous predators as well but they are not insects They are arachnids with eight legs Insects only have six legs Larvae 5
Predators play an important part in the ecosystem Without them too many other insects or other animals would reproduce Then the environment would end up with an unequal balance of animals Insect predators are especially helpful in gardens Insect pests feed on plants that humans and other animals need Predators keep pests under control 6
Ladybugs are expert garden predators Their favorite meal is aphids Aphids are tiny green insects that munch leaves The more ladybugs that live in a garden the healthier those plants often are Insect predators live in every imaginable climate Ice crawlers called grylloblattids prefer frigid climates where they prey on dying or dead insects 7
