We found a one inch millipede in our newspaper curled up. I thought of how millipedes and centipedes are related and how tiny they could be. I explained to the kids that sometimes there are dangers in the garden like a centipede. They may not even realize the dangers.
Spiders
Spiders such as the garden spider, the beautiful golden orb weaver that sometimes makes a web in the garden, are usually beneficial. They take in the yucky bugs that might harm us humans. But the spider can still bite.
There are other spiders, such as the black widow and brown recluse spider, that can deliver a nasty bite that will certainly warrant an emergency room trip. All around the world there are more nasty spiders that could lurk in the garden and gardening area. Be careful. Watch for webs. Some spiders don't make webs like the others. Some are on the ground. Some spiders don't make webs at all.
Generally, if you let the spider be, the spider will let you be.
Ticks
Ticks are annoying little blood suckers related to spiders. They get on the skin and search for a secluded covered spot to latch on and suck blood. The blood is needed for not only sustenance but for developing eggs the female will lay.
Ticks wait on bushes, trees and tall grasses for their victims to come close by and usually jump orfall onto the victim. They then begin their search for a covered spot. This spot is usually on the legs, under clothes, or on the head under hair.
Some ticks carry diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Remove the tick carefully with tweezers, but do not pull forcefully as that could cause the mouthparts to rip off which may cause an infection.
Centipedes
While most centipedes are generally harmless to humans, they can bite and cause a welt much like that of a bee sting. Be careful and try not to handle these creatures. They generally use their poison to defend themselves from predators and to capture prey they eat.
Bees and Wasps
Bees and wasps can pollinate flowers and help keep the cycle of the garden going. Some bees make honey that humans and animals alike can use for food. Some wasps are parasitic and lay their eggs on the backs of pesky caterpillars.
These insects can produce a powerful sting that can cause swelling and shock in some people. Be careful around bees. Some are aggressive, while others only sting as a last resort.
 | Not all creatures that hide in your garden are harmful. Many that may seem horrifying actually benefit your garden. |
 | Much of the necessary task of pollinating our garden crops is actually completed by the thousands of different species of hard-working wild bees that are native to our continent. |
Do you want to control the bad bugs in your garden without pesticides and chemicals? Would you like to have beautiful garden plants and luscious veggies without those nasty chemicals? The use of beneficial insects for your garden has long been a practice of gardeners for years. |
Bugs love gardens, that's a fact. Trying to fight the bugs that are destroying your garden can be difficult since the chemicals used to destroy bugs can often harm the plants as well. There are good bugs, though, that can actually be purchased and placed in your garden to keep other insects from destroying your yield. |
Did you ever hear the reference "nightcrawlers" when talking about earthworms? Earthworms get their names because they live under the earth; they don't like the light of day. Here is an experiment that you can try at home to watch the habits of earthworms or nightcrawlers. |
