There are a lot of earwigs around this year or so it seems. Typical in a year when I had decided to grow more dahlias than usual but I guess the earwigs must have known that and got on with early breeding.

Facts about Earwigs

• Earwigs chew on live shoots, flowers or decaying vegetation and like damp secluded conditions.
  
• In my garden they do most noticeable damage on Chrysanthemums and Dahlias.
  
• Earwigs are attracted to lights when they move around at dusk and nighttime.
• Females lay between 30 and 50 small, round, translucent eggs.

Some Control Tips

• • Good housekeeping, dry areas and removing leaf litter restricts an earwigs desired living conditions
  • Soapy water sprays or chemical formulas can reduce infestations
  • To catch these night feeders use a torch.
  • The inverted plant pot on a cane method with the pot filled with straw or well crumpled newspaper will act as a trap. You can then collect the earwigs for destruction.
  • Birds, frogs and toads that prey on earwigs will help reduce the population of earwigs and keep it under control.
  • Chemical controls such as permethrin should be applied at dusk on warm evenings. Treat the leaves blooms and the soil below the plants.
  • Prevention by removing moisture and decaying vegetation will make conditions less hospitable for earwigs.

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