Gardening experts in Sussex are using an army of creepie crawlies to beat a European ban on pesticides.

As more and more chemical insecticides are being taken off the market due to tighter legislation, horticulturalists are turning to nature to remove pesky pests.

Teams of bugs have replaced artificial sprays as gardeners battle swarms of harmful insects.

And businesses have sprung up which survive by breeding the bugs needed for gardeners to take back control of their land.

South Downs Nurseries, in Hassocks, is one centre that relies on the predators.

Nursery manager Ed Nugent said: “We’ve been using biological control for around four years now and get batches in throughout the year.

“It keeps the pest control down to a tolerable level which is a definite benefit.

“With most of the chemicals you have a complete wipe out but the larvae help keep a natural balance.

“Unless they are designed for that purpose generally they won’t hurt a fly.”

Bugs such as ladybird larvae can be used to control a wide range of pests encountered in the garden and greenhouse.

The predators feed on pests such as greenfly, whitefly, mealy bug and scale.

The nourishment helps transform the larvae into fully fledged adults.

The natural form of nuisance control is known as integrated pest management (IPM).

Littlehampton company Fargro, based in Toddington Lane, is at the forefront of the technology.

It supplies the bugs to garden centres and nurseries across the world.

Neil Helyer, the company’s IPM specialist, said: “The EU directive means more and more companies are having to go down this route.

“It means we’re extremely busy, which is good at such a worrying economic time.

“Biological control is one mite against another.

“IPM brings together all aspects of pest and disease control.

“The UK has been at the forefront of the technology since bugs were first used in the 1920s.

“The farthest regular customer we have is in the Falklands Islands.

“With the help of the RAF we send out a supply about once a fortnight.

“It takes four days to get there and I’m proud to say we’ve never had a complaint.”