Tip of the Week: Earwigs

"Earwigs are becoming quite a problem for Utah vegetable growers. The vegetable garden/farm, because it is a moist environment often surrounded by drier conditions, has lots of succulent plant tissue to feed on and many places for these insects to hide. We are entering the period where their populations are starting to peak, with a decline toward mid September." - Utah State Extension Small Fruits and Vegetable IPM Advisory

Things you can do to keep your earwig count down:

·  Do not over water, or plant too tightly

·  Remove earwig hiding spots in the garden, such as old debris, mulch, and weeds, and cultivate the soil.

·  Trap earwigs:

• Lay traps of rolled cardboard on the ground at the base of plants. Clean out or replace traps daily (each morning). If reusing, dump earwigs in a bowl of soapy water. Rolled damp newspaper or sections of hose also work. Adding wheat bran inside the trap improves effectiveness.
• Place small tuna or cat food cans filled with oil (fish oil or bacon grease + vegetable oil) just below the soil line near plants; replace regularly

Sign up to receive this and more weekly IMP advisories by visiting USU Extension!