Earwigs

May 24, 2010

Earwigs can be beneficial in the garden as they have been shown to be important predators of aphids.  However, they may also eat vegetable or flower seedlings and can also damage maturing soft fruit and corn silks.

To learn more about these potentially damaging insects, including ways to successfully manage them in the home garden, please see UC IPM’s free Earwigs pest notes.

To control them in commercial agricultural settings, please see UC IPM’s pest management guidelines.

Earwigs young plants

Earwigs can be a serious pest by feeding on young plants. However, earwigs are mostly predaceous and in established crops can be beneficial predators of various other pests.

feeding damage

Feeding damage caused by earwigs

Earwig trap

Homemade earwig trap. Pesticide free and very effective.