Is anyone else out there overrun by these nasty little bugs? They seem to be everywhere, in the edges of doors, under anything you turn over and even in the folds of my laundry hanging on the line. Does anyone know what draws them and how to get rid of them? If I sprayed I'd have to do the whole farmstead, yesterday they were where ever I looked. (Maybe I became a little paranoid). I'd even consider some guinia (sp) hens if they would help! Are they like cockroach and carry disease? I have even found them in the house, yuk!! Not many of God's creatures bother me but these things sure do! Thanks for any help.

-- Betsy (betsyk@pathwaynet.com), June 30, 2000

Answers

i hate those things! they got into our well because of a bad plumber and my 3 yr. old was in the hospital for a week with a infection from our water. it was called psudomonus{sp} and only 3 antibiotics would stop it thank god we found 1. i know they like dark damp places,i still can not find any way of keeping them away. we have had so much rain here this year that they are every where. i called a bug company and they told me to use diazion{sp.} pellets around the foundation but i worry about the kids. looking forward to see others answers.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), June 30, 2000.

I am so sick of these bugs!! We have had so much rain ,our cellar seeps and is damp which seems to attract them. I use barn lime on the cellar floor and that seems to help dry things up some. I read somewhere (on this forum?) that wiping things down with white vinegar solution keeps ants away, so I've been doing that and it seems to control the earwigs too. They like damp places.

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), June 30, 2000.

They crawl into the nozzles of my diesel & gasoline hoses, thay are in my 500 gallon garden water storage tank.

-- Howard C. Williams (redgate@echoweb.neth), June 30, 2000.

had them here about 3 years ago, the extension office said that they go in cycles, about every 5-8 years, they come back. They dont hurt alot,, they eat dead wood and such, AND chickens love em

-- STAN (sopal@net-port.com), June 30, 2000.

I agree with Stan--never seen them before but this year they are in every nook, cranny and between every board. They have crawled out of my tractor seat and bit the @#$% out of me. They hurt and they don't let go either !

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), July 02, 2000.

To kill the earwigs, sprinkle food grade Diatomaceous Earth wherever the little buggers are. The DE won't hurt anyone else, even if consumed.

South Central Texas

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), July 02, 2000.

Just where could one hope to locate this food grade Diatomaceous Earth?

-- Ed Holt (goat@sssnet.com), July 05, 2000.

I've purchased food grade Diatomaceous Earth at a nursery and at the feed store. The nursery has the 1/2 pound shaker cans. The name on the can is Carl Pool Company. They're an organic gardening supply company. They only handle the food grade. The feed store has 8 pound bags with the name Carl Pool Company, and 50 pound bags with the name Celite. I called and found out that Carl Pool purchases from Celite! Brands in your area may differ; just make sure it's food grade. If your feed store doesn't carry DE, they may order it for you.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), July 05, 2000.

I tried a DE product specifically for erwigs and it didn' seem to help.

-- Rich (merichu@ifriendly.com), September 16, 2001.