Earwigs are a little tricky when it comes to being a pest or not. They
eat aphids and other garden pests, so I usually don't try to control
them unless their population is extremely high and the birds and toads
have not been eating them fast enough. If you have a lot of birds in
your yard, you most likely will not have a bad case of earwigs.
Earwigs are about a half an inch long and are brown or reddish
brown. They have two antennae on one end and little pinchers on the
back end. You can view some pictures of earwigs here.
If you have earwigs in high numbers in your yard, they could get into
the house where they will eat house plants and feed on greasy or
sweet foods.
Earwigs are generally nocturnal, so you may not notice them during
eat aphids and other garden pests, so I usually don't try to control
them unless their population is extremely high and the birds and toads
have not been eating them fast enough. If you have a lot of birds in
your yard, you most likely will not have a bad case of earwigs.
Earwigs are about a half an inch long and are brown or reddish
brown. They have two antennae on one end and little pinchers on the
back end. You can view some pictures of earwigs here.
If you have earwigs in high numbers in your yard, they could get into
the house where they will eat house plants and feed on greasy or
sweet foods.
Earwigs are generally nocturnal, so you may not notice them during
| Last Updated on March 6, 2010 |
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| Pest Busters - Earwigs |
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the day. They are attracted to damp shady conditions, so keeping plantings away from the foundation of your home can help to
prevent them from getting inside.
They like to eat smaller insects, organic matter and munch on the foliage of strawberries, lettuce, marigolds and dahlias as well as
some other plants. Since they feed on the roots as well as the leaves of these plants, they can kill young plants pretty quickly if
they are in high numbers.
To control earwigs in your home, spread diatomaceous earth around the outside foundation of your home to prevent them from
getting inside. Their pinchers may give you a slight nip, but do not usually break the skin. They are basically harmless to humans
and are not poisonous.
prevent them from getting inside.
They like to eat smaller insects, organic matter and munch on the foliage of strawberries, lettuce, marigolds and dahlias as well as
some other plants. Since they feed on the roots as well as the leaves of these plants, they can kill young plants pretty quickly if
they are in high numbers.
To control earwigs in your home, spread diatomaceous earth around the outside foundation of your home to prevent them from
getting inside. Their pinchers may give you a slight nip, but do not usually break the skin. They are basically harmless to humans
and are not poisonous.
To control earwigs in the garden, remove any leaf litter in shady areas.
tablespoon molasses, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and 8 ounces of
water. Place the mixture in a shallow bowl and bury it to ground level.
The earwigs will be attracted to the mixture, they will eat it and die due
to the yeast swelling up in their bellies. Remove the earwigs from the
mixture daily.
Helen from Toronto Gardens offered this tip on my blog. She writes,
"Dottie, Earwigs are also attracted to long narrow hiding places. For
instance, they like to hide overnight in the ends of bamboo garden
stakes or grooves in cedar fencing. One relatively easy control is to
scatter small squares of corrugated cardboard in areas where there's
plant damage, then gather up the squares in the morning and drop into a
garbage bag or a pail of soapy water". Thanks Helen.
tablespoon molasses, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and 8 ounces of
water. Place the mixture in a shallow bowl and bury it to ground level.
The earwigs will be attracted to the mixture, they will eat it and die due
to the yeast swelling up in their bellies. Remove the earwigs from the
mixture daily.
Helen from Toronto Gardens offered this tip on my blog. She writes,
"Dottie, Earwigs are also attracted to long narrow hiding places. For
instance, they like to hide overnight in the ends of bamboo garden
stakes or grooves in cedar fencing. One relatively easy control is to
scatter small squares of corrugated cardboard in areas where there's
plant damage, then gather up the squares in the morning and drop into a
garbage bag or a pail of soapy water". Thanks Helen.
be pretty damaging in high numbers. If you have stopped using chemical herbicides and pesticides in your garden, the birds and
toads will be in higher numbers and therefore should take care of their population all on their own.
Find more gardening tips here.
toads will be in higher numbers and therefore should take care of their population all on their own.
Find more gardening tips here.
