By David Rees, Consultant, Albany, John van Schagen, Research Officer, Agriculture Protection Board, South Perth and Tony Postle, Entomologist, Plant Industries, South Perth Summary European earwigs were recently found damaging crops in the southern wheatbelt. The pests and the damage they do are described. Baiting methods are suggested. They can also damage fruit and vegetables. Intensive cropping and stubble retention practices suit this species.
Large populations can build up in stubble from good crops.
The earwigs feed on emerging seedlings, making it necessary to re-seed. They also contaminate windrows at harvest time. The speed with which European earwigs have become a problem in these relatively new high-yield crop rotations suggests it has the potential to become a much wider problem. Distribution and spread As the name suggests, the European earwig is native to Europe. It has spread to several continents including North America and the east coast of Australia as well as New Zealand.