beetles

Beetles form the largest group of insects in the world, with over 4,000 species in the UK alone! They play vital roles in our garden ecosystems, from pollinating plants to hunting other insects, helping to keep the garden in balance. Ladybirds love to feast on aphids, whilst other beetles stalk slugs and even snails. There are beetles that feed on dung and decaying matter, providing a vital recycling service, whilst others prefer pollen or other parts of plants. Some beetles have even mastered the water, like the great diving beetle that prowls in ponds, feasting on smaller invertebrates and other pondlife. 

The best way to put on a banquet for beetles is to create a wild patch in your garden, offering long grass, log piles and a variety of wildflowers. Log piles and long grass become a predatory beetle's B&B, giving them shelter and lots of other insects to eat. Log piles are also ideal for the many beetles that thrive on a diet of rotting wood. For the beetles with more floral tastes, many of the plants that attract bees and butterflies will appeal to them, too.