Earwigs giving my plants problems!

[flytrapcare.com]

There are a ton of earwigs that have decided to take up residence in the corrugated polycarbonate panels of my newest greenhouse. I sometimes catch them and feed them to my plants, but they often find their way into the traps themselves. However, I've noticed that they're able to chew their way out of traps! Check this out on one of my larger 1955 clones:


They're also quite "slippery" and quick to find any daylight on the edges of traps. This guy almost got away, but not quite:

[petmantis]

Earwigs are a giant problem for me during the summer months.... they get into every single one of my plants, and then they find ways to get out of the traps.... luckily the majority don't survive.

Periodically, I lift all my water trays off the ground and immediately spray a ton of buyspray where they used to be (if you do this, make sure that NO PLANTS are in the vicinity!), and then replace the water trays after I can see that none of the earwigs are still alive.

What really bothers me is that the buggers can swim - they drop into water trays, 'dog-paddle' their way to a near pot, and climb up. The next morning, all the VFT traps are destroyed...

Good luck with your plants, Matt!

[lloyd]

I think a very dilute solution of dishsoap in water to the trays etc. may help control the devils.

[flytrapcare.com]

I actually kind of like them for plant food because more often than not, they don't escape. But I've been seeing a few more holes in closed traps recently and it's getting to the point where I've considered doing something about it. I'll see how my plants deal with them as the summer progresses.

I'm still chuckling inside at the thought of an earwig dog-paddling

And thanks for the wish of luck PM! I think it's going to be a great summer.

[Raymond]

my venus flytrap i grown from seeds eats them most of the time but last night all of my traps ate the earwig whole and the bugs are 5cm! my traps are only 6cm .but the bad part is that they ate my growing trap plus my plant loves it

[intikhabali]

I have been having the same problem except I did not know what they were called. They are by the dozen and only seems to be on my plants, they drive me nuts. I will try the soap water. Any one know what they eat?

[petmantis]

I usually nuke earwigs once a week with a lot of "Raid" and other bugsprays - they are incredibly clumsy, ugly bugs that hide under my plant pots, and chew holes in VFT traps once they're caught....