Our gardens provide a habitat to a whole range of insect friends, some of which are completely harmless, others of which can have a bit of a nasty impact on your garden plants

However, knowing which insects you should and should not be encouraging into your garden is not always so easy. To help you, Blaupunkt Tools fill us in on the insects we should be welcoming with open arms...

Ladybirds

With a diet that consists of small insects, and a lifespan of two to three years, ladybirds help gardeners by eating aphids, helping to rid your garden of plant eating pests. You can encourage them to your garden by planting things such as chives, dill, fennel and marigolds, which ladybirds love to snack on.

Bumblebee

Eating pollen and nectar, bumblebees only typically live for 28 days. They are great at pollinating your garden, and particularly flowers that other bugs may ignore. You can encourage them by creating a flowerbed which has plenty of leafy cover and planting colourful flowers like bluebells, foxgloves and buddleia.

Lacewing

Lacewing eat a range of pests that would otherwise be munching on your flowers and plants. They only have a lifespan of two months but can be encouraged to your garden quite easily. All you need to do is spray a solution of sugar and water where there are plenty of aphids - this will attract lacewings.

Earthworm

Earthworms have a long life compared to some of the other insects on this list, lasting for between four to eight years. They help to keep soil in good condition, encouraging plant growth too. You can attract them by allowing your leaves to turn to mulch, which creates more inviting soil and helps to keep it moist.

The garden spider

With an average lifespan of five to seven years, the garden spider is a staple of any outdoor area, helping to control the population of flying insects. You can encourage them to your garden by providing shelter which will offer protection from the elements.

Honeybee

The honey bee will feast on nectar and pollen and is great at pollinating your plants. With an average lifespan of four to five months, you can attract them to your garden by planting bee-friendly plants including geraniums, hyacinth, poppies and sunflowers.

Butterfly

Butterflies can have a lifespan ranging from one week to a year, depending on the species. They'll enjoy a diet of nectar, tree sap, rotting fruit and similar, and as well as being a pretty addition to your garden, are great at pollinating. You can encourage them to your garden by planting brightly coloured flowers - for example, reds, yellows, pinks and purples.

Woodlice

Enjoying a diet of decaying plants, woodlice have an average lifespan of two years. They will eat decaying matter, meaning they help with the decomposition process. They also love dark, damp areas, so try providing a textured garden - this gives them perfect home.