Can someone tell me the best way to get rid of earwigs? I've heard about the bamboo laying on the ground, but is there a spray that will get them? I've just this morning found where something is chewing on the tops of a couple of the brug seedlings and I suspect that earwigs are responsible.
Thanks!!
Question about Earwigs
I had an earwig problem last summer & I would also be interested in something to get rid of them. They hide in the tiny new leaves at the top in the daytime & come out at night to eat the new growth. Hand picking seems kind of icky.
Ohhhhh I don't like them. I remember the pain of getting pinched by one of those more than having my kids.
I don't know what they are, but they sure sound awful!
I sprinkled diatomaceous earth in the tops of my plants last year, but this spring we've had so much rain and wind it hasn't worked.
I also got "stuck" by pointed prong on one when I tried to pinch him off a plant. Really bled. We have them mostly when it has rained a lot, under pots, and right in the center of flowers, eating buds, etc.
I'll try the DE after tonight's rain. We are supposed to be dry for at least 5 days after this little storm. Thanks Susie. I knew someone could help. Will still take other suggestions.
i thing i learned about using DE is it kills all the redworms in my potting soil. so be careful using DE. my plants look so sad now compared to the ones before when the redworms are alive.
Thanks MVR. No worms here to worry about. Mostly just potted plants.
MaVie is right, don't broadcast DE on the soil, but in small amounts sprinkled on top of the plants it won't hurt the redworms. I use it from time to time and my soil is loaded with earthworms.
Earwigs eat the brug foliage? I have one out front that is getting large holes eaten out of all the new growth. No slugs, no catapelliars, perhaps earwigs? I didn't know those things ate the foliage! What about cut worms? Do they climb the plant? Thanks ((Kristi))
Ick, I had no idea they could bite you! I have grabbed them out of my rose flowers before and then I toss them down on the driveway as fast as I can and stomp on them. They are the creepiest of my bugs. Now I will be too afraid to grab them! It always gave me the creeps before. I thought some snail and slug bait also listed earwigs on the box.
Hi Ma Vie! Can't you buy some red worms and put them back in your soil? You sure are having a disappointing plant season. How hard it must be for you after your high hopes when you got your new place with such a big yard! I am so sorry for you!
When I first moved here 12 years ago, I had hard packed clay soil and no earthworms. I started buying composted manure by the truck loads and bought a few thousand red wiggler earthworms from Goodworms(a division of Goodwill Industries)and now anywhere I dig in the soil, there are dozens of earthworms!
And now to restart the process in your new home, and leaving your old place much better than you found it. Just think all you have learned can be applied to your Texas spread. Your new place will be incredible!
I have earwigs too, they give me the heebee jeebees, I once brought in a lovely dinner plate dahlia, let me tell you that it was one of the biggest mistakes I made in my life. earwigs started pouring out of it....I couldnt throw it outside fast enough, then I was so paranoid that some of the earwigs were still inside and they would wait till we were asleep and come crawling into our ears and noses....(I guess I've watched too many creepy horror movies) Anyway, since then, I never bring any flowers inside, as much as I would love to, I just enjoy them in my garden.
I had bought some powder at wal-mart that you sprinkle on your plants, there was a picture of an earwig on the bag, among other insects, so I figured that would do the job.
By the way, who is moving to Texas??
Kell, yes i can buy some more. a 10 lb bag if not mistaken with the weight cost only $3.99 at a local nursery. the bag includes not only the red worms but also tons of eggs ready to hatch. come to think of it, maybe i will go get more later today.
Cala, i sprinkled some DE on top of the soil. the pots had been watered a lot of times since April 03,do u think all the DE are gone by now?
Pebble... Cala is moving to Texas sometime soon i think.
MaVie, I don't know if it breaks down, but it should be diluted in the soil so as not to kill the earthworms(hopefully)
I have used this for several years - put down a couple of 8-12 inch hose pieces -leave overnight - bang them on the ground in the morning and a slew of earwigs come rolling out. Stomp hard.. great satisfaction.
hth http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/bugreview/earwigs.html , http://www.pestproducts.com/earwigs.htm#Earwigs
my pleasure Brugie. Thanks Cala :).
Just thought I would bring this back up, I guess I will be buying some DE.. I have seen some holes in my brug leaves, and a couple earwigs on the leaves. This was a dahlia. Gross!!!
You are right, GROSS!
Man you really ahve a bad problem they get in my bathrooms here i hate them!!
I ended up using a spray to kill them. Got rid of 90% of them, and the dahlia is starting to grow in leaps and bounds. When I sprayed them, you could literally hear them just hitting the ground one after another.
Oh my gosh, I missed this when you posted the picture Shelly. That is horrible looking. They really liked that dahlia, didn't they? I'm glad they didn't find your brugs that tasty.
Gosh me too Shirley!
On Paul James'show Gardening by the Yard they gave a solution for earwigs. He said take a plastic water or soda bottle and cut the top off(just before it begins to narrow). Put tuna flavered canned catfood in the bottle, turn the cut off part upside down in the bottle and staple around the edges to attach it. Attach a string by punching two small holes (on the edge where you stapled) and hang in among plants. He said the earwigs can't resist the Tuna catfood and once they crawl in to eat it can't get back out.
That sounds like a great idea, but Im affraid the cats around here would then break all the plants to get after the food.
LOL, he did'nt mention that problem! It is kind of funny thinking of earwigs liking tuna cat food.
bumping this one up also
OMGosh... I sure do hate these things! I do not use the word hate often at all, but this is a time I will.
Great bump Judy