Gardeners must keep a constant vigil against insects that destroy the fruits of their labors.  However, a few insects can help gardeners almost as much as they hurt them, and it may be difficult to decide whether to eradicate these bugs or not.  One example of this type of insect is the earwig.  While earwigs may attack some species of flowers or vegetables, they also eat other insects.

Therefore, on balance, most gardeners find it better to keep earwigs around.  However, few simple methods can be used to keep the earwig population in your garden at an acceptable level.  Earwigs are nocturnal, and they like to rest in dark crevices during the day.  At night, they emerge to feed on the petals, flowers, and buds of many ornamental plants.  They also like to feast on such delicacies as live and dead aphids, slugs, and many different types of insect larvae.

Earwigs can also speed the composting process by eating rotting organic matter.  Some favorite earwig hiding places include woodpiles, bark mulch, around your foundation, and even in the tubular legs of patio furniture.  If you wish to control an earwig infestation, you can use several types of traps.

You can place beer in a jar (or several jars) throughout your garden.  Like slugs, the earwigs will be drawn to it and drown.  Additionally, toilet paper or paper towel rolls can be spread inside with peanut butter or fish oil; it is best to empty these traps each morning into a pan of soapy water.  You can also spray the bugs directly with a mixture of dishwashing soap and water – this should kill them on contact.