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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines


European earwig.

Cherry

European Earwig

Scientific Name: Forficula auricularia

(Reviewed 4/06, updated 4/06)

In this Guideline:


DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

Earwigs are about 0.5 inch long, shiny brown, and have a pair of forcept-like structures at the back end of the abdomen. They are nocturnal and their presence or damage may go unnoticed until harvest. There are two generations per year.

DAMAGE

Earwigs feed on fruit and foliage. Foliage feeding is of little concern in mature trees. However, shoot-tip feeding on young trees may stunt normal growth. Earwig feeding on fruit results in shallow, irregular holes.

MANAGEMENT

Management requires the removal of daytime harboring sites and prevention of access to fruit before it ripens.

Cultural Control
Remove weeds from around the base of trees. Keep orchard clear of prunings, loose bark, or other debris under which earwigs may nest. Remove tree limbs that come in contact with soil to prevent alternate access to trees.

Earwigs can be trapped by using Tanglefoot or a similar material applied to the trunk of the tree to prevent their crawling up. Before emergence of the nymphs, wrap the trunk tightly with plastic wrap so that the insects can't crawl beneath the wrap. Apply the Tanglefoot to the plastic wrap, not the tree, as it can soften bark. Remove these bands before winter.

Organically Acceptable Methods
Cultural controls are acceptable for use on organically grown apricots.

Monitoring and Treatment Decisions
Place boards or rolled-up newspapers in the orchard in early spring and monitor weekly for earwigs that hide under the boards or in newspapers. Treat at the beginning of spring activity when earwigs are found.

Common name Amount to Use** P.H.I.+
(trade name) (conc.) (dilute) (days)

When choosing a pesticide, consider information relating to impact on natural enemies and honey bees and environmental impact.
 
A. CARBARYL
  (Sevin)* XLR PLUS 4 qt 1 qt 1
  MODE OF ACTION: A carbamate (Group 1A)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: Sprays most commonly used in very large, older blocks where baiting is difficult. Spray on trunks and crotches of trees at the beginning of spring activity. Once high populations are found in trees such an application will no longer be effective and a foliar spray is necessary. Do not apply more than 14 qt XLR PLUS/acre/season. The XLR PLUS formulation is less hazardous to honey bees than other formulations if applied from late evening to early morning when bees are not foraging.
 
 
**  For concentrate applications, use the amount given in 80–100 gal water/acre, or lower if the label allows; for dilute applications, amount is per 100 gal water to be applied in 300–400 gal water/acre, according to label.
+ Preharvest interval. Do not apply within this many days of harvest.
* Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
1 Modes of action are important in preventing the development of resistance to pesticides. Rotate chemicals with a different mode-of-action group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action group number more than twice per season. For example, the organophosphates have a group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a group number other than 1B. Mode of action is assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Cherry
UC ANR Publication 3440
Insects and Mites
R. A. Van Steenwyk, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley
K. M. Daane, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
J. A. Grant, UC Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County

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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2006 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/r105300511.html revised: April 18, 2006. Contact webmaster.