Expert advice Six insects we should all love

These tiny creatures may not be the prettiest, but they are good for the garden, says HANNAH STEPHENSON

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WE all welcome the beauty of butterflies, bees and ladybirds - but there are some less well-known and, frankly, alarming-looking insects which are also beneficial to our gardens.

Anton Rosenfeld, research manager at sustainable gardening charity Garden Organic, says: “It’s unrealistic to think that one creature alone will help, and while our instinct might be to create a space that is simplistic and ordered, a diverse habitat will keep pest levels manageable and our gardens full of life.”

He sets the record straight on six garden critters that might look bad but actually nurture a healthy growing space.

1. EUROPEAN HORNET (VESPA CRABRO)

Despite their alarming appearance and armour-plated faces, these giant-sized wasps are quite docile and are only likely to sting you if their nest is under threat, says Anton.

Their nests are usually found in trees and are more common in the south of the UK and the Midlands, although they are moving further northwards. You will usually first see queens in April looking for a place to build a nest, and they will remain active until late autumn, when all the workers die off, he explains.

Why they are good for the garden: "Hornets definitely have their uses in an organic garden both for pollinating plants and hunting down 'pests' such as caterpillars which they feed to their young. The adults themselves like to feed off brightly coloured pollen and nectar-rich plants such as cosmos, fennel and ripe sugary fruits."

Anton adds: “Contrary to confusing misinformation, European hornets pose no threats to UK bee populations. This threat comes from the Asian hornet that looks vastly different: it’s smaller, with a high proportion of black on its body.”