Earwigs in the garden and at home

The earwig, or as it is popularly called the two-tailed earwig, is unlikely to become a pleasant guest in your apartment or garden. In fact, the earwig and the double-tailed are two different animals belonging to different orders, but in our minds it is a small brown body with two antennae in front and two mites in the back.

The body length is 1.5 - 3 centimeters, rarely more. Imagine your surprise when you find out that earwigs have wings and can fly. But fortunately for us, the insect rarely uses this skill, preferring to use its limbs. Her appearance frightens and horrifies everyone. And for good reason, because this insect brings a lot of problems to the house.

Earwig food - our plants

These animals are omnivores and are not averse to eating vegetables, fruits, berries and flowers in your garden plot, and sometimes on your own table, eating up the leftover food. Therefore, you should take the order on the table and cleaning up after meals very seriously. If you are a lover of ornamental plants, then you have probably often encountered the problem of the death of roses, chrysanthemums, carnations, dahlias and other flowers. The reason for this may be the aforementioned insect pests. The earwig is a burden for the gardener, gnawing everything in its path: leaves, shoots of young plants, flower petals.

Danger to humans

They can damage not only plants in your garden, but also indoor plants, penetrating into your home. But there is no need to be especially afraid, since the insect prefers to live outdoors.It hides during the day and comes out “to hunt” mainly at night. During daylight hours, earwigs hide in damp places: tree bark, under stones, and the like. The insect rarely appears in the house, but if it does appear, it is in the kitchen, bathroom and other rooms with high humidity, such as the basement and cellar. For humans, this arthropod does not pose any particular danger. Despite its name, this insect rarely accepts attempts to crawl into the human ear, and the likelihood of an earwig crawling into the pinna is the same as that of any other small insect. However, the presence of a tail in the form of two claws makes us afraid of this animal. And not in vain, because with these very claws it can pinch a person, which can lead to unpleasant consequences:

• There is a possibility of allergies, and blisters may appear at the site of the “bite”.
• It is no exception that earwigs, like many animals, can carry some kind of infection and, when bitten, pass it on to you.

These cases are rare, but they still happen. And any appearance of these insects should alert you.

How to deal with pests in the garden?

There are several ways to combat this pest:

• The first way is humane. You can simply scare away insects. This method is characterized by the fact that the insect does not die, but only leaves your garden, as unfavorable conditions are created for its existence. Experienced gardeners know that these pests are afraid of vinegar and boric acid. You can also use garlic or onion infusion and laundry soap. The liquid is sprayed over the beds, sprinkled on flower pots;
• The second method completely destroys insects.This is the use of chemicals such as Iskra, Inta-vir, Karate and other chemicals
  insecticides. The main thing is to follow the instructions on the package;
• To prevent these villains from visiting your garden, it is worth clearing it of garbage, rotting plants, and the like;
• Autumn digging will also help you fight not only earwigs, but also other pests and weeds. Never neglect this procedure;
• In greenhouses, it is worthwhile to arrange ventilation and general cleaning more often. Don't water the seedlings too often. Water deeply, but not often, and try to do it in the morning, as earwigs are nocturnal.

How to deal with pests in the house?

To combat earwigs in the house, even ordinary Dichlorvos or Raptor can help. There is a win-win option - this is the Mashenka chalk. It is inexpensive - on average 20-25 rubles per piece. Use this chalk to rub the baseboards to make the earwigs disappear. But the most important thing to control these insects in your home is to maintain frequency and order in your home and get rid of cracks and holes. By following these simple tips, you will reduce the likelihood of these nasty insects appearing in your apartment or house.

Benefits of earwigs

But in addition to harm, these insects can also bring benefits to gardeners. They eat aphids and flies, caterpillars and slugs, mites and larvae of other pests, parasitic fungi and fallen fruits. So to some extent they can be called assistants. However, they do much more harm than good. So, if you see an earwig in your home or garden, get rid of it immediately!