earwig

[ethanryan]

hi can anyone tell me how to stop earwigs getting ony washing, eberyday when i bring my washing in off the line they are on my washing.
anyone any handy tips to get rid of them?
thanks

[Robinia]

I think you need to find out where they're coming from ethanryan. Have you got old type concrete line posts with a hole in the top by any chance? if so it's a fair guess that they are in there, earwigs love narrow holes & tubes to hide in. Or is the line wrapped around the posts lots & lots of times? Again they could be hiding under there.

[LoftyLottie]

I am a complete and utter nature lover. I tolerate all things even if I can't handle them. I can see beauty in most things, but ............ please don't ever mention earwigs again - they make my flesh creep! ;o(

[Robinia]

earwigs!

>>>>>>>>

[LoftyLottie]

lol

[lankeela]

Me too, it has given me an eternal fear of hanging out washing since I was 'attacked' by an earwig which was on some washing my grandma once asked me to bring in.

[ethanryan]

my washing line goes from fence to fence there is no metal pole

[terambulan]

My grown daughter is a fine example of the nutritious value of earwigs....she ate them continuously while crawling.

Just shake them off your washing......collect them up and fry them on toast..........great for breakfast.

You'll soon run out of earwigs!

[wildwood]

Once you got rid of them as per robina you need to prevent them from access to the lines again. Maybe some Vaseline or grease around the posts, just above ground level so your washing won't flap on it.

If the end of the line(s) are attached to a building or the house, try a 4" circle cut from a plastic ice cream container with a cut halfway through to a hole in the middle that would fit snugly over the line - like those things they put on the ropes that tie up ships, to prevent rodent from climbing up to the boat. Put one on each end of the line and the [auricle]wigs won't be able to reach your washing.

[evedawn]

I've never ever SEEN an earwig....

What do they look like anyway...?

[wildwood]

I really must try to improve my typing speed. Another 3 answers since I started the above post. lol

[wildwood]

Here's one of the beauties for evedawn

http://www.insectsofalberta.com/earwig.htm

[LoftyLottie]

aghhhh .>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[evedawn]

ahhh - i am now educated wildwood...i've seen those before (albeit not in my washing!) I grew up (okay it was another continent) calling em "fishmoths"... i think they look the same. i wonder if i am correct?

[LoftyLottie]

I looked up fishmoths and found out that they are another name for what we call earwigs. They are different.

Silverfish (fishmoths):

http://www.micropest.com/photos/silverfish.jpg

earwigs:

http://entomology.unl.edu/images/earwigs/euro_ earwigs.jpg


Silverfish are just fine, earwigs are just grotesque!!

[evedawn]

well they may be from a different family but...they're both UGLY!

thanks lofty for clearing that up

[LoftyLottie]

I should have said fishmoths were another name for what we call Silverfish, but I expect you gathered that evedawn.
Silverfish might be ugly but they are quite 'sweet' compared to the evil earwigs!!

Are they called earwigs because they get in your ears? I always thought that was the reason!! When I was a child I called them earywigs!! Anyway, they get into places that no other creatures could possibly manage.

Nighmare creatures!!!!

[Robinia]

Well some good has come of this - LoftyLottie seems to have overcome her phobia & is putting up posters of them & wildwood has renamed them...auriclewigs, ha ha!

I (secretly) nicknamed a nurse earwig when I was in hospital because every single time she took my BP she'd wrap my arm in the cuff & say "Ere we go then...."

sorry for the chat ethanryan, just had to share that :o)