The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: plumseverywhere on July 03, 2012, 04:59:45 pm

Title: Earwigs?
Post by: plumseverywhere on July 03, 2012, 04:59:45 pm
Wasn't sure whether to put this in 'wildlife' or not ..


Anyone else seeing hundreds of these things all of a sudden? They are all coming into the house in their droves. Am feeding them to the chickens....
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: robert waddell on July 03, 2012, 05:02:28 pm
they like the damp weather ;) :farmer:
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: plumseverywhere on July 03, 2012, 05:04:35 pm
Well I wish they'd stay out in it and not keep coming in my house Robert  ;D   so many of them, ewwwwww. Was at school just now and one fell out of my coat sleeve!! I squeaked and flapped. Now no-one will stand and talk to me  ::)
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: SallyintNorth on July 03, 2012, 05:14:50 pm
Well I wish they'd stay out in it and not keep coming in my house Robert  ;D   so many of them, ewwwwww. Was at school just now and one fell out of my coat sleeve!! I squeaked and flapped. Now no-one will stand and talk to me  ::)
Sorry Lisa but that just made me hoot!   ;D ;D ;D

You get the odd plague of earwigs; I had one such once, they stripped all my plants (especially two new clematis plants  >:() but the year after they reverted to normal proportions.  They're normally the gardeners' friend, my gardener friend tells me, as they eat aphids.
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: Fleecewife on July 03, 2012, 06:38:03 pm
Earwigs are the most wonderful wee things.   Did you know that the mothers carefully lick their eggs clean every day when they turn them, to stop them getting mould on, and look after their young most diligently?  If the eggs or young get scattered they will track them down and bring them back together. And they only nip you if you upset them  ;D
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: omnipeasant on July 03, 2012, 10:17:15 pm
Ahhh poor little earwigs. they get a bad press don't they.

We used to have them in the house back in Shefield. This post has just made me realise I haven't seen a single earwig here in Wales!!
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: Lesley Silvester on July 03, 2012, 10:48:42 pm
They may be wonderful wee things but I wouldn't want an influx of them in my house.  Keep feedng them to the chooks, Lisa.  they'll appreciate it and word might get about that yours in not an earwig friendly house.
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: plumseverywhere on July 04, 2012, 07:11:01 am
Ahhh poor little earwigs. they get a bad press don't they.

We used to have them in the house back in Shefield. This post has just made me realise I haven't seen a single earwig here in Wales!!


I'm off to the post office today, would you like some sent first class mail? seriously...its no bother....
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: Hermit on July 04, 2012, 08:17:33 am
I was plagued by earwigs in the polytunnel but I made rings of salt around the inside edge, round the raised beds and even sprinkled salt on the tables before putting seed trays  on them. I have not seen one yet! My poly looks like something from a voodoo film but it worked, for slugs as well.
I am now going to go in the poly and find zillions of earwigs! ::)
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: jaykay on July 04, 2012, 08:55:13 am
Can't remember the last time I saw one (probably have a plague now  :D)

Don't think I'd want one in my coat sleeve though, however interesting they are  :D
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: omnipeasant on July 04, 2012, 09:34:42 am
Thanks plumseverywhere, I'll pass on that one. Only native species are encouraged here. Maybe 1200 ft is too high for earwigs. hedgehogs are another species we haven't seen!
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: SallyintNorth on July 04, 2012, 10:15:57 am
hedgehogs are another species we haven't seen!

Well I will gladly send you ours.  Little be**ars take our chicks!  I've stopped helping the hedgepigs therefore, but don't have the heart to be actively discouraging...
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: jaykay on July 04, 2012, 10:38:32 am
No, no hedgepigs either. Some friends have them about half an hour away, but none here. Mind you, they'd need snorkels here  ::)
Title: Re: Earwigs?
Post by: plumseverywhere on July 04, 2012, 10:55:58 am
Ah my Grandmother made a wonderful jog-jog stew.....we never see hedgehogs round here either funnily enough...