Earwig

Earwigs are reddish-brown insects with prominent pincers at their rear that feed on flower petals and fruits of stone fruits and ornamentals across Western Washington. You will see ragged damage on blossoms and fruit, particularly late in the season. Though earwigs are often blamed for damage, they also consume many pest insects and mites. Damage is usually minor unless populations become very high, and fruit damage is mostly cosmetic.

Earwig damage is tolerable and requires no treatment in most garden settings. If populations become excessive, remove ground debris and dense mulch where they hide during the day. Create earwig traps using oil-filled cans placed in the soil to monitor and potentially reduce populations. Do not use broad-spectrum insecticides; earwigs provide beneficial pest control even while causing minor cosmetic damage. Most home gardeners simply accept earwigs as part of a healthy garden ecosystem.