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Show SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, Control earwigs by Diane Alston, U.S.U. Extension Entomologist The earwig got its name from an old superstition that it could crawl into peoples ears while they sleep and bore into the brain. This belief is not true. Earwigs can, however, chew into plants and cause damage and can be a nuisance around the home. Consider this information for control. The most common type of earwig found in home yards in Utah is an exotic species called the European earwig. Earwigs are easy to recognize from their cerci, the large, pincer-lik- e appendages on the hind end. Cerci are used and courtin ship and will deliver only a mild pinch to humans. The earwig body is flat and elonin colgated and to or. Earwigs are in inches one and a short have Adults length. pair of leathery wings covering a folded pair of membranous wings. They are weak fliers and move mostly by crawling. Earwigs can emit a foul liquid smelling, yellow-browfrom their scent glands. They are omnivorous and will scavenge on dead insects and decayed organic matter, prey on live insects and chew on living plant material including leaves, flowers, stems, fruits and roots. Earwigs are pests outside the home because of the damage they can cause to ornamental and garden plants, and a nuisance when they enter homes seeking shelter and food. If damage to garden plants is apparent or many earwigs enter the home, control measures should be considered. Garden plants commonly injured by earwigs in Utah include annual flowers (especially marigolds, dahlias and zinnias), herbs (especially basil), roses, raspberries, strawberries, apricots, peaches, sweet corn tassels and silks. Because earwigs are beneficial due to their predaceous and decomposer feeding habits, they should only be controlled when causing self-defen- se red-brow- n one-fourt- one-fourt- h n h in the yard Oak trees outstanding soil. tree This July 27, 2005 - Page 12 in As the weather gets hotter, your home and garden harm. Earwigs are nocturnal. If chewing injury to plants is apparent but no culprit can be found during the day, check the plants at night with a flashlight. If shiny, slime trails are present, snails or slugs are the culprit rather than earwigs. For earwig control, focus on the outside of the home where populations increase during spring and summer. To reduce their entry into your home, create a clean, dry border using gravel or stone immediately around the foundation wall. Eliminate hiding places near the foundation such as groundcovers, climbing vines, weeds, thick mulches and vegetation and piles of debris, leaves or wood. Earwigs hide under mulches in plant beds during the day, so be sure to select mulches with smaller-sizeparticles to reduce refuges. Seal cracks and crevices around windows, doors and cable holes in walls. Apply insecticides (see recommended products below) around the foundation, flowerbeds and turf within several yards of the home. In late spring to early summer, suppress earwig populations by targeting sites where they congregate (sites where females brood their young), and on plants when d injury appears. Place traps in the evening and collect and remove earwigs in the morning. Effective traps include shallow cans with vegetable or other odorous oils, moist rolled newspaper and cardboard boxes baited with oatmeal or bran. Be sure cardboard containers have pencilsized holes near the bottom for entry. Apply an effective insecticide in the late evening just before earwigs come out to feed. Recommended insecticides include permethrin, bifenthrin, carbaryl, malathion, azadirachtin and diatoma-ceou- s earth. Use enough water in the application to cover plants and carry the chemical into the top layer of soil or mulch where earwigs hide. Not all insecticide products are registered for edible plants. Read the product label carefully before making an application. pyre-thrin- Natural ability without education has more often attained to glory and virtue than education without natural ability. Cicero 106 BC - 41 HO s, Utahns appreciate trees even more. Trees offer many benefits in the summer. They offer shade, they can provide a spot to hang a hammock, they can serve as a jungle-gyand they make great forts for youngsters. m large drained has even shown some drought tolerance. The columnar oak is an English variety that has a slender, upright silhouette. Harmoddy to zone four, it is a erately fast grower, and is a good choice for more formal d landscapes. It is for those narrow spaces where some height is desired, and it definitely for this purpose. cottonwoods ExUtah State University I have a northern red oak Matension horticulturist. with its ples and large dogwoods were and am impressed rate and popular with our neighbor- attractive shape hood gang. Birches, willows of growth, said Goodspeed. it and alders were low on our At almost feet 18 list; their weak wood taught has reached nearly us a lesson the hard way. One high. This oak is native to of the best trees for climbing the East coast, and does best is the oak. Not only are they in deep soils. It can, howevbeautiful, but large enough to er, adapt to heavy soil if not It stands up hold at least one or two secret clubhouses. As children, we well to the wind, and holds its admired that in a tree. shape better than many othAs an adult there are other er trees. The swamp white oak is qualities to appreciate, said For example, another hardy variety that Goodspeed. can grow in most locations in most oaks have few pest probUtah. As its name suggests, lems, and they have a reputation for living hundreds of it prefers more moisture, he said. It does best in deepyears. Oak trees are an excellent choice for the landscape. er soils, but it can adapt to Their slower growth develops heavy, alkali soils. Other oaks that do well in harder wood, making them for windy locanorthern Utah include the tions. shingle oak, white oak and A number of oaks can be native Gambel oak. Native planted in northern Utah, he oaks prefer higher bench losaid, but sometimes they are cations, but can grow on the overlooked for landscapes bevalley floor as well. Oaks are great trees whethcause of their reputation as slow growers. Many oaks have er you climb them, sit under a moderate growth rate and the shade of their spreading can begin maturing within branches or plant them for ten years. They then have the future generations to enjoy, advantage of providing shade Goodspeed concluded. Take and enjoyment for many gena look around your landscape erations to come. and see if there isnt room for One of my favorite oaks is an oak or two. Children playthe Burr, said Goodspeed. ing in the yard now, and those g variThis in the future, will be glad you is did. to the native central ety plains of the United States and Canada. The Burr oak is hardy to zone three, so it works well for most Utah Never give advice unless asked. locations. It can adapt to the German Proverb clay soils, but prefers well- well-suite- When I was young, I noticed that some trees were better for climbing than others, said Jerry Goodspeed, out-perfor- over-watere- d. well-suite- d faster-growin- Your Krafts & Anti can be sold oil consignment 000Qunaaio(i0iijH3js,(i TAH FOR DETAILS, CONTACT LORA HUSKEY 435-587-33- 68 o 800-721-18- 70 800-448-34- 13 www . salmonair. com We look forward to serving your flying needs. |