It could become more fascinating than birdwatching. Top Dragonflies - Along with their smaller relatives the damselflies, dragonflies capture huge numbers of mosquitoes, midges and gnats on the wing. Dragonfly nymphs live in water, where they prey on mosquito larvae and other aquatic insects. Some have gray or yellow wingcovers marked with black spots or blotches, while others, such as the spider mite destroyer are entirely black and very small. Ladybird larvae resemble tiny alligators, covered with rows of short spines.
Ground beetles are another large family of beetles.
They eat slug eggs, grubs and insect pupae in the soil, and can even run up trees after tent caterpillars. . Lacewings - These delicate insects have large, finely veined wings. They also prey on spider mites, thrips, leafhoppers, small caterpillars and insect eggs. Green lacewings eggs, which are laid singly on long stalks, are often seen standing up along the leaf veins of garden plants. The larvae are like tapering, alligator shaped, with prominent curved jaws for capturing their prey.