Post #4003380

@skyfaller@jawns.club @CindyWeinstein@zirk.us I read an article from Japan that basically said that the existence of parasitic lifeforms in even small ecosystems is a sign of health. That's to say, it's having a variety of parasites that's the important thing (not like, eg, we only plant basil and it's plagued by aphids). Parasitic wasps a brilliant example of this because each of the different types are usually keyed to particular host/prey species. Besides leaving leaf litter, there's also bug hotels, ponds, having hedgehog corridors (if they're native), companion planting, no-mow areas (including yellow-rattle, if it's native) and working with local plants. The ultimate aim is biodiversity rather than fretting over problems with one particular type of plant. It might just be a sign that it's not a good spot for it (like how hostas are a magnet for slugs, for example) or a sign that more diversity is called for. I didn't/don't know what scale is. I had to click through and read to figure it's some kind of insect. I'm sure that it has natural predators, and those predators probably have plants or types of environment that support them. There's probably something out there that's a good natural solution in the same sort of way that attracting ladybugs/ladybirds is a way to control excess aphids. I'm not really a gardener, though, and I don't think I'd make a good one. I'm not at all interested in specimen plants or yields or stuff like that. I do enjoy the biodiversity side of it, though.