Description
Earwigs are hard, flattened, reddish brown insects, up to 1 inch long, with forcepslike pincers that extend from the back end. The pincers on the females are almost straight, with a sharp inward curve on the end. On the males, the pincers are longer and have a wide curve. The pincers are used as offensive and defensive weapons, and sometimes to catch insects, on which earwigs feed. However, their main sources of food are plants, ripe fruit, and decaying organic matter. Young earwigs eat ragged holes in the leaves of many vegetables and flowers in spring or early summer. Older earwigs feed on blossoms and corn silk, causing poor kernel development on the cobs. The insects may even climb into large fruit trees, such as apricot and peach trees, and feed on ripening fruit. Earwigs are nocturnal insects, feeding at night and hiding during the day. In daylight hours they hide in damp, dark places, such as under flower pots or in wood piles, plant refuse, open garden hoses, or homes, where they become household pests.
Control
If you think earwigs are eating your plants, inspect the plants at night with a flashlight. Spray or dust with an insecticide containing diazinon or scatter a bait containing carbaryl lightly in a 2- to 4-foot band around plants, flower pots, house and porch foundations, wood piles, or anywhere else you think earwigs may be hiding. Do not use on food crops. To keep earwigs out of fruit trees in lawn areas, sprinkle an insecticide containing diazinon around the base of the trees a month before fruit ripens.
