Earwigs eating EVERYTHING!!

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HELP! I just planted a bunch of ornamentals and earwigs are devouring them. Heck, they are even eating my strawberries. I know they are earwigs because I checked early one morning. Aside from killing them when I can, does anyone have some suggestions besides serious chemicals? Thanks for your help.

-- Carleen (netorcs@pacbell.net), May 26, 2000

Answers

chickens love them, and the plants

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), May 27, 2000.

Earwigs aren't supposed to do much damage to plants. Guess nobody told yours that. Chickens and traps. One trap being an inverted flower pot partially stuffed with something like paper or possibly grass. Prop one edge up a bit on a stick so the earwigs can get in. Empty and destroy the earwigs as needed. Put the traps near where they are feeding to make it easy for them. Good luck. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 27, 2000.

I once read that you should roll up a damp newspaper and set it in your plants. At night the earwigs climb in and get comfy. Go out in the early morning and throw away newspaper. Don't know if it works but all it will cost is a piece of paper. YOu could also invest in "good" bugs like lady beetles, green lacewings or trichagramma wasps. Good luck.

-- Amber (ambrosia75@wa.freei.net), May 27, 2000.

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