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Earwig Problem Solved!

October 27, 2008 @ 23:00 By Gavin Webber 7 Comments

Thank you to everyone who left suggestions on my Bloody Bugs post. I read all the suggestions and tried the easiest solution first.

You will be happy to know that the prize goes to BevB for suggesting to have a look at Scarecrow’s Garden. However, it wasn’t Scarecrow’s post where I got the solution, mainly because I didn’t have any recycled tyre weeping hose. It was one of the comments attached to that post where I found this idea. Vegetable OIL! (click to enlarge picture)

You see, I have found that the little blighter’s just cannot resist the smell of vegetable oil, in this case olive oil, and go to have a drink and don’t come out of the salsa jar which is buried in the bed up to the neck (photo courtesy of Kate). In one night I have caught 52 earwigs in a single garden bed with no further damage to the rock melons and pumpkins. Unfortunately, I hadn’t set traps in the cucumber or broccoli beds, so they suffered the wraith of the wig! But tonight, I get my revenge. With two more traps in each bed, I will soon have the numbers down to a manageable level!

If you have an infestation of earwigs, give it a go. The photo is a testament to this methods success!

“Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged.”
Samuel Johnson (English Poet, Critic and Writer. 1709-1784)

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Filed Under: Organic, pests, vegetables

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About Gavin Webber

Gavin Webber's daily goal is to live a more sustainable lifestyle, in an effort to reduce his family's environmental footprint so we can all make a difference for our children & future generations to come.

Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Comments

  1. wombat064 says

    October 27, 2008 at 23:32

    Can/will the chooks eat them now they are marinated in olive oil ?

    Yum, protein and essential oil.

    Earwig paella anyone ?

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    October 28, 2008 at 00:12

    Well done Gav another problem solved
    Ellie

    Reply
  3. Sharon J says

    October 28, 2008 at 01:10

    My mum still believes that earwigs can get into your ears and burrow their way into your brain!

    Glad you got yours sorted out 🙂

    Reply
  4. BevB says

    October 28, 2008 at 08:10

    Glad you found a solution to your earwig problem Gavin.

    —
    BevB

    Reply
  5. Teena says

    October 28, 2008 at 10:55

    Mmmm handy dandy little tip! Shall give it a go!

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    October 28, 2008 at 11:41

    Thanks for sharing this info – very helpful. Please keep us informed of anything else that kills ‘bloody bugs’ that you find works! Cheers.

    Reply
  7. bayside gardener says

    October 28, 2008 at 12:50

    Hope they like the veggie oil I used for frying chips.
    Have a jar firmly placed in the garden as I type.
    Great tip.
    Anita

    Reply

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About Gavin Webber

About Gavin Webber

An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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