Re: Earwigs
- To: Mediterannean Plants List <m*@ucdavis.edu>
- Subject: Re: Earwigs
- From: T* &* M* R* <t*@xtra.co.nz>
- Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 08:40:33 +1300
- References: <3.0.5.32.19981029231347.007a5190@pop.ozemail.com.au>
Liz Runciman wrote:
>
> As I'd always thought slaters did no damage, am
> I under the same misapprehension about earwigs?
> I find them on my nightly prowls with the torch
> especially on the roses. What are they doing?
>
Liz
Earwigs do eat petals sometimes. Dahlia growers often find the ends of
petals have been shortened and reshaped by their nibbling. My
impression is that they mainly favour plants of the daisy family for
their salads and possibly those you find in your roses may just be using
them as a convenient sleeping place, but you could soon see if this is
so by examining the flowers for bite marks.
Earwigs are omnivors and also do quite a lot of good in the garden by
eating caterpillars.
Moira
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand
