Earwigs are small thin yellowish-brown insects with long antennae at the front and two long pincers at the back. Earwigs hide during the day and feed at night, feasting on the buds, leaves and flowers of plants such as dahlias, chrysanthemums and clematis. However, as they also eat aphids and other small insects, they can be beneficial for the garden; do not automatically try to eradicate them unless your plants are being damaged.

Control

Earwigs often find shelter amongst garden rubbish, so good hygiene will help to keep numbers down. Their love of hiding may also be used to trap them; simply place an inverted plant pot filled with straw on top of a 1 m/3 ft bamboo cane. The earwigs will be attracted to the pot as a daytime shelter from which they can be removed and disposed of. Alternatively, spray at dusk with permethrin, pirimiphos-methyl or HCH.