How to Get Rid of Earwigs on Baby’s Breath Plant

Baby’s breath is a delicate flowering plant that adds beauty and elegance to gardens, bouquets, and floral arrangements. However, these lovely plants are prone to earwig infestations that can quickly damage the foliage and blooms. Earwigs are nocturnal insects that feed on plant material and seek out damp, dark hiding spots during the day. If you’ve noticed jagged bite marks, holes in leaves, or trails of shiny slime on your baby’s breath, it’s likely earwigs have moved in. Getting rid of these pesky garden pests takes diligence, but is possible with consistent monitoring and targeted treatments.

Identifying Earwig Damage

The first step is confirming that earwigs are in fact the cause of the damage on your baby’s breath plants. In addition to the chewed leaves look for

• Silverish slime trails on leaves and stems from earwig secretions
• Earwigs hiding in moist, dark areas around the base of plants or under pot rims
• Increased damage overnight as earwigs emerge to feed

Thoroughly checking plants and surrounding areas in the evening or night may reveal active earwigs crawling on the plants and ground. Their distinctive pinchers protruding from the rear make them easy to identify. If earwigs are confirmed as the culprits, take action promptly to limit further damage.

Remove Hideouts and Breeding Sites

Earwigs thrive in damp, cluttered environments Reducing ideal hiding spots and breeding sites can help deter earwigs from congregating near your baby’s breath.

• Clear away accumulated garden debris like dead leaves and rotting wood
• Keep the ground surrounding plants free of dense groundcovers or thick mulch
• Fix any leaks and avoid overwatering to prevent moist conditions
• Remove boards, stones, or other objects earwigs could hide under
• Grow plants like mint, lavender, or garlic which may repel earwigs

Keeping the landscape clean and dry gives earwigs fewer places to nest, breed, and take cover during the day. This can reduce their numbers over time.

Apply Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a non-toxic powder that can be used to kill and deter earwigs. The tiny fossilized diatoms scratch the waxy coating on insect bodies causing dehydration and death. Apply a thin layer of food-grade DE around the base of baby’s breath plants and in problem areas. Since DE is harmless to humans and pets it can also be dusted along fences, foundation walls, and window sills where earwigs may enter. Reapply after rain or watering. Over time, DE will control earwig populations through contact.

Use Neem Oil Sprays

Extracted from the neem tree, neem oil makes an effective natural pesticide against earwigs and other garden pests. It won’t harm most beneficial insects. Mix neem oil with water according to package directions and spray the baby’s breath leaves, stems, and surrounding soil. Hit undersides of leaves and crevices where earwigs hide. Reapply weekly or after rain until earwigs are under control. Neem oil kills earwigs on contact and repels new ones. Its residual effects can keep protecting plants for up to three weeks.

Set Out Traps and Barriers

Simple traps can capture earwigs prowling at night so they can’t damage plants. Make rolls out of newspaper, cardboard, or corrugated plastic. Stuff them with straw, wood shavings, or crumpled paper which earwigs will take shelter in. Place traps on the ground around plants in the late afternoon. Collect and dispose of the traps in a bucket of soapy water in the morning. You may catch dozens of earwigs in a single night this way.

Inverted clay flowerpot traps also work on the same principle, providing dark, damp hiding spots. Prop pots upside down on stakes with crumpled newspaper inside. Check underneath in the mornings to remove earwigs. Keep replacing newspaper as it gets wet. Alternatively, barriers of diatomaceous earth around plant bases may prevent earwigs from ever reaching the foliage. Renew DE barriers after watering.

Use Earwig Baits and Lures

Certain homemade baits can draw earwigs in for easy trapping and disposal:

• Shallow dishes of vegetable oil or soy sauce
• Beer or yeast mixtures in lidded jars partially buried at soil level
• Cotton balls soaked with salad oil or bacon grease

Lures like these attract earwigs seeking food or shelter. They’ll climb in and drown or suffocate. Collect and replenish baits daily to maximize captures. Place them near plants, but not directly against stems. Once earwig populations dwindle, remove lures so they don’t attract new ones.

Employ Natural Predators

Releasing or attracting natural predators of earwigs can provide biological pest control. Ground beetles, birds, spiders, and other beneficial insects will hunt earwigs and reduce their numbers. Avoid using broad spectrum pesticides that could kill these predators. Intentionally introducing predators like green lacewings or Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes can also decimate earwig populations when used properly.

Maintain Vigilance

Be thorough and consistent when treating earwig infestations. It often takes repeated applications of remedies over several weeks to substantially reduce their numbers. Pay close attention while earwigs are active at night and target them directly. Eliminate all possible hiding spots in gardens and homes so they have nowhere to shelter and breed. With diligent monitoring and prompt action, you can protect your baby’s breath from further earwig damage.

Earwigs can be a persistent nuisance, but don’t let them ruin your beautiful baby’s breath plants. Natural, non-toxic remedies and vigilant maintenance will help safely rid your garden of these pesky pests. If earwig populations are high, a multi-pronged approach using several methods together may be most effective for control. With consistent prevention and treatment efforts, your baby’s breath will once again thrive earwig-free.