Earwig infestation

**pheboglobi** · 05-29-2010, 08:52 PM

So I have an earwig infestation on my hops... anyone had any experience with getting rid of them other than with insecticides? I rather not have not have insecticides in, on, around my hops, but I don't want dead hops either.

But they've pretty much have stopped growing anyway at this point, so it may be too late anyway.

Anyone have any ideas?

rollinred · 05-29-2010, 11:02 PM

Yeah, I had them bad last year. They haven't shown up this year but they never damaged my plants at all. I just left them alone. Besides being annoying I don't think they really do damage.

pernox · 05-29-2010, 11:13 PM

Getting rid of earwigs is easy and free - just use cardboard.

Get some corrugated cardboard laid out around your plants, soak it with the hose, and leave it for a couple days until it just starts to dry out. Earwigs love a nice moist sheet of corrugated cardboard, so they will crawl in there to hang out/breed/have parties/whatever and after it gets nice and full of earwigs you just throw it into a convenient trash bag/fire. Repeat as needed.

avidhomebrewer · 05-30-2010, 03:14 AM

Sweet method, pernox! I've heard of that for isopods and other related insects, but never tried it with earwigs. Thankfully, they haven't infested my hops plant, yet, anyways....

**pheboglobi** · 05-30-2010, 09:11 PM

I think I'll try the cardboard idea. Thanks pernox!

BlackJaqueJanaviac · 07-28-2011, 03:01 AM

Does this cardboard method work well enough to put a dent in the earwig population?

They seem so numerous that mechanical means seems futile. Just curious if anyone has actually reduced the earwigs, or if this is just one of those techniques that makes you feel like you're doing something about it.

**Steelers77** · 07-28-2011, 03:11 AM

You can use diatomaceous earth, it acts like little shards of glass and cuts them so they bleed to death. I use it on my lawn for fleas and ticks also.
Caution: Wear a mask when spreading this.

**B-Hoppy** · 07-28-2011, 05:27 AM

I HATE Earwigs! They get in my socks, my undies and in the pockets of my pants and I don't think there's enough cardboard on earth to put a dent in their mayhem. (I do dry my clothes out on the line). Honestly, they're just more of a nuisance than anything else. If they find the smallest of a nook or cranny to hang out in, they will and do. They're usually long gone before the hops hit the kiln so I wouldn't worry about it. Have a beer!

Hernando · 07-29-2011, 08:21 PM

+ 1 for the DE. Stuff is great. Make sure you get teh food grade though.