Of the some 8,000,000 species of insects known about 8,000 are considered pests and many of the rest are predators of those. Spraying something to try to keep those few pests can be harmful to the predators, as well as the pollinators most of out plants need to produce the food we eat,

The steps in Integrated Pest Management are,

1. determine if there is a problem

2. Identify what is causing the problem

3. Use the least toxic means of correcting the problem

4. review the process to see if the problem has been corrected

5. return to step 1.

A good start in controlling insect pests is to make sure the soil your plants are growing in is a good and healthy soil so the plants grow up strong and healthy and of less interest to the insect pests. Plant an insectary, a place that will attract beneficial insects and provide food and shelter for them until the pests arrive to do that as well.

kimmq is kimmsr

Thank you for your post. Would you please explain what an insectary is?

Essentially a flower garden that provides a habitat for insects. Perhaps this link will be of some help.

http://www.gardening-for-wildlife.com/beneficial-insectary.html

kimmq is kimmsr