Over run with earwigs

[jimbeekeeper]

Never seen so many, they are under everything you lift or turn over.

Anybody else got them bad?

 

[Hivemaker.]

Yes,does seem to be a lot of earwigs about.

 

[Andre cardona]

yes lots her to

 

[jimbeekeeper]

Quick get it there is even one on your PC screen below!

 

[pipewrench36]

Quick get it there is even one on your PC screen below!

Yes, I saw that and hit it with a rolled up newspaper. That didn't work so I hit it with a hammer and now my computer doesn't wooooor.......

 

[chickendave]

Never had so many but they don't seem to do any harm to the bees or do they?

 

[nonstandard]

Never had so many but they don't seem to do any harm to the bees or do they?

I'd like to know too, there's lots of them and they do seem to leave some 'debris' behind under the frame lugs.

 

[dpearce4]

Quick get it there is even one on your PC screen below!

looks more like an ant. have lots of them in my hives atm so sure it is. lol

 

[Polyanwood]

No earwigs, but lots of wood lice in the roofs and 2 huge leopard slugs in one of the mating nucs!!

 

[John M]

Yesterday evening I saw a bee grab an earwig as a terrier would and try to fly up through the glass quilt with it. Couldn't believe my eyes so kept watching and it happened again (earwig now dead) Could it have been killed this way? ... and before anyone says, I know terrriers don't grab and shake earwigs!

 

[Winker]

Never had so many but they don't seem to do any harm to the bees or do they?

I too have laods of them in the hive roof, but from what i can see, they are not brave enough to enter the hive

 

[nonstandard]

Back to the point though; are earwigs an issue or just an inconvenience?

 

[fincaazul]

Never seen so many, they are under everything you lift or turn over.

Anybody else got them bad?

This seems to be a good year for earwigs. While crow shooting last week hundreds dropped out of a gatepost when I undid the bolt from gate to field. Have noticed many on allotment, and several above crown boards of hives. earwigs are vegetarian and live on numerous plant species, reason they are in hive is probably because it is nice and warm. They should cause no problem to bees or they would be rapidly ejected. I know they are a nuisance but do not, as I was told when young, get into your ear, eat through your brain, and come out the other ear.

 

[sukis-dad]

I too have quite a few. They do eat nectar from a frame, but I don't know if they would uncap honey. If they do they could be a very big problem.

 

[Luminos]

Many more than usual here, too

 

[greatbritishhoney]

I know they are a nuisance but do not, as I was told when young, get into your ear, eat through your brain, and come out the other ear.

Phew that's a relief!

 

[huntsman666]

You can try a gardener's method of getting rid of or reducing their numbers.

Collect paper cups or similar, pack some straw-like material into them, put on a short stick near the hives.

Earwigs on the ground during the day, like to go up something at night. They'll go up the sticks and stay in the straw.

In the morning you can do what you like with the earwigs you collect.

Great trick if you grow dahlias.

 

[viridens]

It is certainly a bumper year.
Earwigs don't have a sweet tooth. They like dark and damp places, and I wonder if they are attracted to hives, hive roofs and crown boards by the moisture from a colony especially as honey is being dried down?

 

[huntsman666]

<They like dark and damp places>

I think you'll find that's the wood louse.

 

[Bee-Key-Pur]

Back to the point though; are earwigs an issue or just an inconvenience?

When I did my courses, I was told that they don't bother the bees and are nothing to worry about.
That's what I was told, so untill I know different, I just leave them be...

Brian.