I moved to our home in Lake Havasu City 11 years ago and have never
sprayed for insects or weeds. I love wildlife and let nature "do her
thing" in my yard. It is full of insects, lizards, birds,
butterflies and bunnies (but like you, not one weed, I am rabid
about weeds). To me the wildlife, even the insects (maybe especially
the insects) make for an alive and interesting garden. When it is
time for a new plant I always plant one that will be food or home
for something. Thanks for your post. I love your column. 

Laura,

Your landscape sounds wonderful and full of life. I hope your
neighbors follow your lead. I'm perplexed when I visit a great yard
like yours full of plants and creatures next to a yard devoid of
anything but gravel (and there are many of them). Why don't the
gravel growers want to "keep up with the Jones's" in this important
area and beautify their landscape with plants and birds? Thanks for
sharing and I'm glad you enjoy the column.

We too are trying not to use pesticide sprays in our yard since we
have wonderful toads, road runners, quail, etc.  However at this
time of year on the high desert the black widows and cockroaches
really start proliferating. More than I can tolerate! I go out late
at night and stomp the cockroaches (which delights the
toads-roadkill!), but I can't always get to the black widows. DO
animals and reptiles eat black widows? 

We rarely treat for pests with pesticide...though we had an
overabundance of aphids and sow bugs this year.  We do have (in
these fortresses called yards) a lot of geckos, lizards, and many
varieties of birds.  I never thought I'd see so many in Arizona! The
only way I do weeds (except that perennial foe, nutgrass) is by hand
pulling them.  It not only makes our environment healthier, it makes
us healthier, too!

Toads--lucky you! Do they show up with the monsoon season? Stomping
on cockroaches is right up there with weed pulling as a therapeutic
outdoor activity! As for who eats black widow spiders? They eat each
other (Giving fresh meaning to the term dysfunctional family unit).
Females might eat males after mating, and baby spiderlings eat each
other upon hatching. Although, I don’t know if that keeps the
population down. “Spider wasps” in the family Pompilidae prey upon
black widow spiders according to Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. A
wasp stings the spider, paralyzing it, lays an egg in it, and when
the wasp larva hatches, it feeds on the spider carcass until it’s
ready to pupate and emerge as an adult. Supposedly, spiders don’t
put up a fight when attacked by a wasp. I’ve seen lots of lizards
grab various insects in my yard, but I’ve not seen a lizard nab a
black widow. Black widows are shy during the day, maybe that’s why.
Perhaps somebody else can share who is the hunter or hunted in their
yard when it comes to black widows.

My experience has been similar.  
There were lotsa crickets inside and out that, couldn't sleep,
insecticides and cats and no lizards at all.

Moved a few blocks away, didn't have a landlord anymore, less
insecticides and fewer neighbors using them.  And it was better. 
Fewer crickets, more sleep.

It got even better when I put in a vegetable garden and native
plants which made a large part of the yard pretty xeric (meaning
don't water it hardly at all).  
The cricket population stays in check, black widow population
practically dissappeared.  
Natural fluctuations with seasons and all.

And lizards and native birds abound.  So much fun. The birds eat
bugs and do nice dances while they're doing it.

And since the cat lady next door moved, it's even better, lots more
lizards running their own bug control routines.  (One reason to keep
your cat inside.)

Sometimes patience helps.  Veggies and other plants may invite
aphids over but no worries, the aphids are often followed by their
predators if you don't poison the lot.

I find that getting to know the critters, including the bugs, ends
up making life fuller and richer.  I've seen some truly beautiful
bugs here.  

Hi Gilbert Jane,

Did you notice any increase in ladybeetles or green lacewings
because of the aphids? The larvae of each of these beneficial
predators feast on aphids, and I often see an increase in green
lacewings when it's aphid time. You’re right: nutgrass is a
perennial foe!

Hi Deb,

I was just thinking the other day that I hadn't heard from you in a
while, and assumed you are hiding from the desert heat just as the
smart critters do! Thanks for sharing what's happening in your yard!