Beneficial Garden Bugs of the SC Lowcountry

A guide to some of the common beneficial Insects(as well as Myriapods, Isopods, Molluscs) that you may encounter in your gardens.

All of the species in this guide either prey on other insects during one or more of its life stages, or is a detritivore, an organism that breaks down dead plant or animal matter. Please keep in mind that if a bug you encounter isn't listed here that that does not necessarily mean that it is a harmful species. Most insects are not garden pests.

I did not include Wasps, Bees, or Dragonflies/Damselflies as those are almost always beneficial and including them would have made the guide too large. I also excluded species that were strictly pollinators. less ↑