Which plants and flowers attract beneficial insects, like butterflies, bumblebees and lady beetles, and which repel pests, such as mosquitoes, houseflies and aphids?

There can be benefits to selecting certain varieties of plants—for example, butterfly bushes will attract butterflies to the garden, which can be relaxing. There are also many plants that can attract certain insects that will eat other damaging insects to your plants. Coreopsis is a beautiful perennial that offers a mass of flowers in the summer, but will also attract lady beetles. The lady beetle and its larvae will eat many damaging insects, such as aphids and mealybugs. Catnip and hydrangea will attract soldier beetles, which will feed on aphids and caterpillars. There are also plant varieties that can repel mosquitoes, such as lemongrass and marigolds.