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Western PA

I have been growing for a while now and have never seen earwigs chewing on my plants. That all changed last night when I went out to do some late might LG pollination.

I have noticed this summer there numbers seem to be booming in my area compared to past years, they are tucked in every crevis you can find in the day time. I never thought of them as a problem pest.

Last night I came across a group of about 2 dozen just feasting on the top two leaves of one of my sunflowers and watched them very closely, they are voracious eaters. as I made my way to the LG trellis I had A couple prime positioned LG's I had pollinated a coupe days ago and Found a earwig just devouring one of the LG fruit. He was trenching into the fruit pretty deep.

I am not that worried about losing plant material, my concern is my actual pumpkins and LG's if those two dozen came over and decided to hit one of my pumpkins or LG's they could do significant damage overnight.

I have never sprayed my fruit in the past with pesticide, I usually try to spray around them when spraying the plants. Does anybody out there spray the actual fruit with Bifen or similar products? I always figured it would age the skin.

7/10/2013 7:03:42 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I spray the pumpkin itself with everything I've got. No worries.

7/11/2013 10:24:49 AM

Omaha, Ne.

Ive see a lot this year too. Now you get me worried about this to. Thanks:)

7/11/2013 7:39:49 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

You have to spray these. Earwigs will eat you alive. If you want to attract them to an area in your garden to kill them, lay down a piece of old carpet. Leave for a day, lift , and fire away!!!!!! House and garden raid works great!!

7/11/2013 8:20:04 PM