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The small brown beetles have been of interest to mankind for centuries. Earwigs (Dermaptera) look a bit dangerous with their small pincers on their abdomen. Many people, especially children, tend to be afraid of the ear crawlers when they cross their path. They are usually found in the wild at night. Sometimes a few specimens can get lost in the house. The question often arises as to whether earwigs are dangerous or poisonous?
earwig
Earwigs are also commonly known as earwigs. There are approximately 1,700 different species worldwide. Only 30 of them live in Europe. In Germany, the “common earwig” (Forficula auricularia) is the most common. The small insects can reach a size of between 12 and 17 millimeters depending on the sex and are reddish-brown to black in color. Her body is divided into three limbs:
- Head with sharp mouthparts, two antennae and eyes
- breast with wings
- Abdomen with two pincers (ceri) and yellow legs
notice: Earwigs are flying insects. However, only a few species can actually fly. Depending on the species, the wings are either fully developed or reduced to the point of being unable to fly.
As a rule, most of the forewings are severely regressed and the hindwings are folded under the chitinous armor and are not visible. The claws on the abdomen are curved to different extents in males and females. They serve to ward off attackers and capture prey. Besides that, they also provide good help during mating to hold the mate firmly. Flying species can open their hind wings with the help of pincers.
Rarely visible during the day
As a rule, the small insects are extremely nocturnal. During the day you can hardly see them. Unless they were awakened from their hiding places. Earwigs love a sheltered, narrow and slightly damp place. Here they feel particularly comfortable and in the spring the females also lay eggs here and in the autumn the young animals. Preferably serve as hiding places
- Heaps of brushwood and leaves
- small cracks in branches
- Gaps between tree and bark
- Cavities under stones but also
- hollow peach stones
notice: Earwigs are also very familial. After the eggs are laid, the brood is carefully cared for, as is known only from honey bees in the insect kingdom. Without this brood care, the eggs could not survive.
Are earwigs dangerous?
For centuries, there has been a legend about these small insects. For this reason, earwigs were also considered very dangerous and sometimes poisonous for humans and animals. Tradition has it that people assumed that the little beetles entered the auditory canal of the sleeping person during the night, where they destroyed the eardrum with their pincers and laid their eggs. Of course, this is just a superstition, because catchy tunes just don't have the power. On the contrary they are for humans and pets too completely harmless and by far not poisonous. Even a small bite from the earwig is completely harmless, not dangerous or poisonous and doesn't even really hurt. The insects only defend themselves in this way when they feel threatened.
notice: Earwigs can shoot their secretions up to 10 cm at their enemies. However, there is no health risk. It's non-toxic.
The fact is, however, that they were used as medicine in the Middle Ages. To do this, it was necessary to grind the dead insects into a powder. It was then used to treat earache, deafness and hearing loss. Well, the success is certainly questionable.
Useful garden helpers
Among organic farmers and of course also hobby gardeners, earwigs are definitely considered to be useful garden helpers. Their favorite food consists mainly of aphids, the small, light green pests on the underside of leaves or on the flowers and flower buds of various plants, such as roses. Once a plant is infested with it, it literally sucks the sap out of it. Major damage can occur if left unchecked. In addition to cockchafers, ear crawlers can also be a natural control method here. At dusk, the small insects go hunting. But not only aphids belong to their preferred food, but also
- Codling moth eggs
- mites
- web moths
- fungi
- algae
- mildew fungi
However, it should also be noted that the Dermaptera can cause damage in orchards and vineyards. Especially in warm and dry years, when they multiply rapidly, soft-skinned fruits such as
- cherries
- peaches
- grapes and
- plums
be on their menu. Very often they can also be found in eaten fruit, such as apples. However, these fruits are usually rotten or pre-damaged. Earwigs cannot penetrate hard fruit peels on their own. They usually use the tunnels of the codling moth caterpillars.
Since earwigs feed partly on organic waste, fungi and algae, they are also involved in humus formation and also the release of nutrients in the soil. At the same time, they in turn serve as food for birds, hedgehogs and shrews.
In addition, there is also the possibility, especially in dry years or if there are not enough aphids, that the earworms feed on carrion or dead plant parts. They then also gnaw on healthy leaves and flowers to meet their water needs. If frayed, eaten leaves then appear, then the Dermaptera is usually at work.
They can also cause damage to grain stores, grapes, peaches and ornamental plants such as clematis, trumpet flowers and dahlias, since no pesticides are permitted here. However, it happens quite rarely.
In the garden, earwigs are mostly more useful than dangerous and poisonous.
notice: Normally, earwigs feed on plants and animals. However, the sand earwig (Labidura riparia) on the Baltic Sea coast is a pure carnivore with its 26 mm length.
Earwigs as pest repellents
Since the earwigs have now turned out to be useful pest controllers, no control should be carried out in the garden. On the contrary, it is useful to create suitable habitats, in other words appropriate nesting and resting places. This will then also succeed in attracting the beetles and persuading them to stay. You can easily build an accommodation yourself, without much effort and manual skill. A clay flowerpot filled with straw is ideal for this.
- Knot a piece of cord with a crossbar
- pull it through the hole in an inverted flower pot from below
- Crossbar and cord ensure hanging of the pot
- Fill the pot with straw or wood shavings
- dust with a handful of soil
- firmly insert a piece of rabbit wire
- The wire must protrude 3 cm over the edge of the pot
- fasten everything with binding wire
- The inside of the pot should not get wet (rain)
- simply glue the potsherd to the upper hole
- Lay the pot aside near typical overwintering quarters
- recommended sticks and piles of leaves
- best time: early spring
- Opening must be accessible
- Carefully pick up the pot in mid-June
- post at destination
- good place hanging in fruit trees
- with opening downwards
tip: It is important that the pot is always in contact with the tree trunk or thicker branches at the top and bottom. In this way, earwigs can reach and leave their shelter unhindered and without detours.
combating pests
Normally there should not be any control in the garden, as they prove to be very useful. But sometimes there can be a big plague, especially in dry and warm summers. However, the word plague is not really appropriate with two populations a year.
In the kitchen garden, the earwigs can cause great damage if there is little food available. In addition, they are also not really desirable when they appear in large numbers on balconies and terraces. Nevertheless, they should not be fought in this sense, but should be resettled to another location if possible. To do this, it is necessary to lure the insects out of their hiding place in a targeted manner. The above-mentioned flower pot filled with straw proves to be helpful. This is simply placed upside down in the bed, hung in the fruit tree or attached close to the ground on the balcony or terrace. The animals will happily accept this dwelling as their new quarters. Relocation is then possible without any problems.
Sometimes it can also happen that isolated specimens get lost in the house. Here, too, relocation is advisable. Earwigs love wet spots. A piece of damp paper or cloth can be placed in a corner of the room to attract them. It won't be long before the animals have gathered there. A transfer to the outside is then quickly done.
To prevent earwigs from getting into the house at all, the use of fly screens can be helpful. Light can also help. The little beetles love dark places. The light can simply be switched on or a light source can be mounted on the affected areas.
notice: Chemical control of earworms in the garden is prohibited as they are considered beneficial. Violations are subject to fines. Only glue rings on stone fruit trees are allowed.