Bearstate,

We don't use many pesticides, besides the occasional Raid ant spray, so I can't really say how our "good guys" would react to their use. Not because we are totally opposed to them; we're just blessed not to have many pests besides the occasional aphid infestation, which we usually treat with blasts of water. We also have lots of Preying Mantis's and Lady Bugs (I always thought their larvae looked like miniature Gila Monsters!) that we would prefer not to poison.

We've got at least 6 Alligator Lizards on our property (I saw a little baby one just the other day). I've observed them hunting camel-back crickets and earwigs and they're supposed to be a main predator of Black Widow Spiders.

We've got a few Western Fence Lizards. I haven't seen them feeding, but they generally hang out in more open locations than the Alligators...

I've seen two Gilbert's Skinks. They were hiding under large pieces of wood; I'm guessing that they eat more subterranean critters like centipedes, earwigs and maybe worms...

And, my favorite backyard predator is the Sharp-Tailed Snake, a tiny worm-looking serpent that feeds on slugs and small snails. I use only the iron phosphate based snail baits when necessary, to hopefully protect the snakes from being harmed.

Mike

Western Fence Lizards (Sceloperus occidentalis) and Alligator lizards are probably the 2 most common lizards (at least in the San Jose area). Both live here naturally. You could collect them and set them loose in your garden. Whether they stay or not would depend upon a food/water source and proper habitat.

I would suggest that you buy or look at the Westeren Field guide "Western Reptiles and amphibians" by Stebbins, to see what lives in your area and what type of habitat they are found in and create some habitat in your yard not only to attract naturally occuring populations but to make them want to stick around.

They will not eradicate a pest problem, but would help to keep it in balance. I wouldn't use pesticides as they would just upset the natural balance you want to create.

wanda

We have lots of Western Fence Lizards here. They seem quite hardy. They live wherever they can find a hiding place for shelter. We also have lots of frogs. Between the lizards and the frogs, we see very few pests in the garden other then the deer. I have noticed that since the frogs came last summer, we don't have any tomato worms. Oh, happy day! Our neighbor's cat tries to catch the lizards and we keep finding "tailess lizards" whenever he comes around.
Donna