Earwig problem!! YUCK!

[1manda1]

For some reason I have an earwig problem with my hydrangeas. They get into the new growth leaves and burrow down into them, so you can't see them unless you pull the tiny new leaves apart! It's so gross and I'm worried that this might be why my plants aren't blooming well. I have sprayed them with Sevin, which is supposed to control earwigs well, but theya re still around. I know htat is not the recommended product on this forum, and I plan on changing as soon as this bag runs out. I pick them off a few times a day, and this morning there were 4 on my new growth. I'm sick of them! Is this a common pest for hydrangeas? What is a good way to control them? I've heard of placing wet wrapped newspaper around the problem area, and the earwigs are supposed to crawl in then throw them away. I did this, and got no bugs!

Also, when the bugs are so buried that I cannot get them out with my fingers, I have had to pull the new growth off at the base of the sprouted leaves in order to remove the bugs. My thinking that I would rather get the bugs off, and hopefully the plant will be ok and replace the growth. Is this ok? Should I pull the leaves apart, and most likely break them anyways, or just pull the entire sprout off at the base and remove them?

Thanks for any help! These darn earwigs are driving me crazy!!!

Amanda

[decam0]

Dahlia growers(earwigs LOVE dahlias) do this....
Push a short cane (or several canes) into the ground around the plant. Stuff some spare plant pots with newspaper- not TOO tightly. Then put the pot upside down onto the top of the cane. The earwigs will (supposedly) crawl into this hidey-hole at night. Here comes the nasty bit. You have to empty the earwigs out to get rid of them. I'd just put the whole pot, newpaper and nasties into a lidded something and throw the lot, then prepare more plant pots. Problem is....there's a whole lot of earwigs out there....just waiting!