Earwigs
 

Hi, all,
I found an earwig in one of my outside oncidiums when I was watering the other day and made me think about when it's time to bring them inside this fall. First off, are they a danger to my plants, and secondly, what can you put in the medium to get rid of any hitchhikers when you are ready to bring them inside ? All input is appreciated.

Supposedly, earwigs are harmless to plants. They eat decaying plant material. They rarely eat healthy plants. My observation about these critters is they like to hide in the loose potting media of orchids.

When I get ready to bring my plants inside, I soak all of my plants in Physan or Neem Oil or any other insecticides at hand. Earwigs quickly scurry out of the pot and head for high ground. After a good soak, take the treated plants and bring them inside! Then take the rest of the plants that remain through the same treatment.

These are gruesome looking insects!

I had one come out of a pot in the house the other day when I was watering. Luckily I got him in a tight squish.

If they are moving around, rolled up newspaper makes a good trap. Leave it out at night and step on it in the morning, or seal it in a plastic bag for disposal.

Indeed they are. Those pinchers look painful.

---------- Post added at 12:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:29 AM ----------

OMG . That must have been some show.

Earwigs will chew leaves and flowers! They were major PITA when I grew dahlias. I have also known them to sheer off young leaves of orchids/plants w/their chewing.

They are also known to eat the nasty bugs BUT because of the damage they can do...if I see them, they must go. Soaking the plant will bring them up. I'm trying sevin powder on a problem plant right now but I don't yet know if that has been effective.

FWIW- a friend once told me she got pinched by one and she said it didn't hurt. They creep me out and I hope one never gets close enough that I find out for myself.

If you have had problems with scale or mealies, earwigs will clear your plants of them. However, if you grow roses and other flowers, you can see they are definitely not very good to flowers and young leaves. So, being omnivores, they can be both good and bad.