Earwigs are an enemy of anyone with a green thumb. Earwigs will happily crawl through gardens feeding on plants. Though they have their favorites, they don't discriminate what types of plants they feed on. Consider these pest management tips to prevent earwigs in your garden.
Earwigs will crawl far distances to reach gardens and homes, HGTV Gardens stated. Each earwig comes with rear forceps that look like pincers. They're nocturnal creatures - they only come out at night to forage for their food. During the day, they'll hide in dark and quiet spots. They're a fan of moist spaces, which is why the garden is a perfect environment for them. Earwigs will feed on whatever is nearby, whether it's human food or plants. Females will lay 30 eggs twice a year, allowing for infestations to happen quickly, numbering in the thousands. The insect doesn't have any foe other than humans. So, the bugs can continually breed without harm.
Earwigs can sometimes be a benefit. They'll feed on other garden pests, such as slugs and snails. However, if there's a population boom, then earwigs quickly become an annoyance. They'll feed on your garden, leaving behind a trail of holes. They may also consume seedlings before they even had a chance to bloom. Some of their favorite garden snacks include squash, potatoes, dahlias, marigolds and beans.
Homeowners might not be aware that earwigs are residents of their property at first, since other garden pests will leave cut-outs as well. People can check to see if they have an earwig problem by venturing out to the garden at night with a flashlight. Look underneath leaves of plants and in the small crevices of stems.
Luckily, there are a few tips on insect management for earwigs.