How to Get Rid of Earwig Pest from Houseplants: Earwig Pest Control Indoors


Houseplants Pests, Earwig Pest

Earwig Pest Identification

Earwigs are dark-brown pests with a pincer-like tail. They hide during the day and feed at night on the leaves and the flower buds. They thrive in damp, dark conditions.

The presence of Earwig Pests on houseplants is marked by ragged holes on the leaves and flowers and/or tunnels in the soil.

How to Control Earwig Pests on Houseplants

  1. Pick and destroy the Earwig Pests; look under the leaves and shake the flowers.

  2. Treat the infested plant with an insecticidal soap or a neem oil as indicated by the manufacturers on the label.

  3. You may also spray the affected plant with a garlic or pepper solution to repel the Earwig Pests. Blend garlic cloves or hot chili peppers with water, strain the mixture and use it to spray the plant.

  4. For a heavy infestation, spray the plant with a Pyrethrin-based insecticide as per the manufacturer's recommendations.

How to Keep Earwig Pests Away from Indoor Plants

  1. Keep your plants healthy at all times by providing the right growing conditions. Healthy plants are less likely to be infested by pests.

  2. Obtain your plants from trustworthy sources to avoid introducing these pests to your plant collection.

  3. Inspect new plants before bringing them indoors and treat any infested plants until when free of these pests.

  4. Frequently inspect your plants for Earwig Pests and carry out timely control measures.

  5. Use sticky barriers to prevent the Earwig Pests from crawling onto the plants.

  6. Apply Diatomaceous Earth on the soil and around the base of the plants, to discourage and kill the Earwig Pests.

  7. Keep your plants properly pruned to get reduce the breeding and hiding grounds for these pests.

  8. Maintain the growing area clean by removing any plant debris as it can harbor the Earwig Pests and/or their eggs.

  9. Regularly clean the leaves, by damp-wiping with neem oil to deter these pests.

  10. Avoid overwatering and/or soggy soil because Earwig Pests flourish in damp conditions. Use a pot with a drainage hole and a well-draining soil.

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