Birds, Bats, and Toads Insects are not the only group of beneficials. Gardeners should also befriend birds, bats, and toads, which help keep insects in control if provided with things they need such as water and shelter. A toad reportedly can eat up to 15,000 insects in a growing season-16 percent of which are destructive cutworms. To encourage toads to stay in the garden, give them water and cool, shady places protected from cats, dogs, and lawn mowers. Proper shelters and night lights that attract moths will help bring bats to your yard or garden area.
Bats are mammals that feed at night.
They can eat up to half their body weight in insects each evening. They eat mosquitoes, gnats, moths, beetles, and other night-flying insects. Insect-eating birds are also valuable allies to the gardener, although birds which eat or damage fruit from bushes and trees may be categorized as pests. Gardeners can protect their fruiting bushes and small trees by covering them with protective netting when the fruit is beginning to ripen. Gardeners can help attract and keep beneficials by making the garden more attractive to them.