In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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June 19, 2007

Earwigs

My marigolds are looking chewed.

I suspect earwigs.

The only way to know for sure is to go out at night---earwigs prefer to destroy plants under the cover of darkness---with a flashlight and take a look. I’ve seen it happen before. You have marigolds one day, skeletons the next. The earwigs can chew their way through an entire planting of flowers in one night.

As far as insects go, earwigs are scary-looking little creatures. They got the name earwig because, in centuries past, they’d be found in bedding and people mistakenly believed they’d crawl into your ears at night. They’re also called “pincher bugs” because of the wicked-looking pincers on their back end. And those pincers work.

Control? Diligence and perseverance are the operative words. When you see an earwig, smash it. I’ve also gone out at night, flashlight in hand and Safer’s Insecticidal Soap in the other, and any earwig I see I spritz with the soap spray. It kills them. After several days, you’ve generally knocked the population down enough that the marigolds make it through the night.

Do you have tip for controlling earwigs? Post it on the comments section below and share it with In the Garden readers.

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