earwigs

[Andrew Dewey]

I've got earwigs in small quantities (5-7) hanging out on my inner covers on 3 hives that are close together. Are they anything to worryy about? I also found a big spider today that had at least 4 bees all wrapped up and ready for dinner!

[PA Pete]

I have both earwigs and spiders as well - about as many as you have. Mine are mostly inside the outer cover - not the inner cover. I don't consider them a problem. I don't think the earwigs bother the bees at all, but I'll usually brush them out when I see them. I like having spiders around the yard (to the chagrin of my wife - though she's starting to come around to my view) - especially the big orb spinners we get around here this time of year. They eat other not-so-nice insects (like moths, beetles and yellowjackets) and if the spider catches an occasional bee, good for her!

-Pete

[Ribster]

I have earwigs living in my inner covers most of the summer/fall. They've never caused a problem for me. I don't bother with spiders around my hives.

They don't catch enough to cause any harm to my hives. If I saw a web coated with bees I would probably think differently.

[busybguy]

I too see earwigs occasionaly under the outer covers and sometimes on the bottom boards. I read an article about earwigs in an entomology magazine and according to the article, earwigs will eat ants and other small insects. Do you see what I'm coming at. Mites are "other small insects". The earwig has a home in my hives at least until I catch them up to no good.

[Phoenix]

I have had numerous problems with Earwigs in my hives. I didn't think it was a problem until the first time I saw a bee crawling around with an Earwig embedded in it's abdomen. After closer inspection, this was a fuzzy newborn that was feasted upon while still capped.

I have seen countless times since, Earwigs will burrow through comb and prey upon capped brood. That is why I devised a trap to place under the outer cover that the Earwigs get into and feast on a pesticide powder, yet the bees can't get into it. This trap is working against the ants I've had problems with as well, and is being tested in my battle with the SOB's, I mean SHB's.

[notaclue]

Do you have anything you can post Phoenix? So far I have the trap with banana peel, sugar, water and vinegar. Nailed one YJ, over a dozen wax moths and a pile of blue and green flies in the past week. It's due a change out.
Also SBB, powdered sugar and finishing up the SHB sawdust trap. I'm always excited about a new device I can try out. Especially if it isn't overpriced.
Since I'm not sure what an earwig is I'm not too worried. Ants are another story. I now have large ones that sometime try and fight the bees. I feel a satisfying crunch everytime I squish one on the hive.
David

[Phoenix]

David, I'm sending out samples of my bait delivery system to everyone that sends me a self addressed stamped envelope. It should be one of those small padded manilla envelopes, just to insure the trap doesn't get damaged in the mail.

Anyone that's interested can send me a PM.