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Return to the Integrated Pest Management Forum | Post a Follow-Up

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hemlock vs. earwigs

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Posted by PaulNS NS zone 6a (My Page) on
Wed, Mar 16, 05 at 8:27

I was talking with a fellow at a feed store about remedies for earwigs. Diatomaceous earth, soapy water, tuna cans of whatever - we've tried everything but chemical pesticides and are still overrun with the b*ggers every year. He said hemlock bark or sawdust is the one thing earwigs really avoid, and pointed me in the direction of a sawmill that saws only hemlock. I picked up five feedbags of sawdust and brought it home. Gave them to my wife as a present for International Women's Day :) She was pleased when I told her what it might be good for. We plan to use it in the paths and along the borders of the garden this summer and possibly around the perennials.

So - myth? Anybody tried hemlock? Anybody foresee problems with using it as a mulch? This is not 'poison hemlock' by the way. It is fragrant though.

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RE: hemlock vs. earwigs

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We had a problem with earwigs several years ago. We removed all the old leaves from around the outside of our home and then sprayed inside and out with Rid-A-Bug. Never had a problem again. Never even seen one until this past fall. We again removed all dead leaves and sprayed....so far so good. Have never heard of using hemlock before, but anything is worth a shot.

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RE: hemlock vs. earwigs

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I couldn't find info on Rid-a-bug although there's a pest control company called that...Something tells me it's not organic? The earwig nests are everywhere - everybody within a forty mile radius has them. Or rather, everybody who gardens at all has them. Gardening in sandy soil seems to breed them. I think we could eradicate them in our area if we killed every living soil organism along with them for some years to come, which I'd rather not do. I'm going to try the hemlock sawdust, and the tuna cans, etc., as well as building up the organic matter in the soil.

Our neighbour sprayed his place down with Bug Be Gone every night in summer for three years to exterminate earwigs and is now dead, too young, from cancer (he was also a lifelong smoker but who knows....) Birds stopped showing up at his feeders...

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RE: hemlock vs. earwigs

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Hemlock wood? hmm I let me know how it goes. I have the same problem with earwigs here in CA. my yard is clean and there is no piles of anything but they are living in the grass and now coming inside EVERY WHERE... AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

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RE: hemlock vs. earwigs

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I've heard the same thing of cedar shavings, which might be more readily available. Have not tried it myself.

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RE: hemlock vs. earwigs

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Earwigs, outside of the house are beneficial just as ants are, outside of the house. They do not belong in our living spaces inside our houses. If they are inside you need to drive them out and to keep them out spray around the entry points with garlic sprays. Your yard may smell like a serious Italian Resturant for a while but that will keep the earwigs out. To trap earwigs in the house a mixture of molasses and water in small butter tubs works quite well. Check the link for some information about earwigs, but don't spray most of the stuff on the Ohioline page inside your house because most of that has been found to the cause of serious adverse health affects in children.

Here is a link that might be useful: Facts about earwigs

  
 

 

 


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