Earwigs

Earwigs

Symptoms

Ragged irregular holes are made in flowers.

Cause

Earwigs are 14mm long pale brown insects, with a distinctive pair of pincers at the end of their body that makes them easily reconisable.

Harm

They eat young foliage and flowers

Treatment

Place earwig traps near vulnerable plants. Make a trap by filling a flowerpot with shredded old newspaper/straw, then place it upside-down on the top of a bamboo cane pushed into the soil. Earwigs like to hide in dark places during the day so will congregate in the upturned pots. All you then need to do is to check the traps regularly and dispose of any earwigs you find inside.

Most affected plants

Chrysanthemums, dahlias and clematis.

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