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rose883 Guest
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Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 2:37 am Post subject: Earwigs? |
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I saw an earwig in my hive today. This is the first time that I have seen this, and there was only one. Should I worry? Will the bees take care of him? Actually, I did it for them, but can these be a chronic problem? What do I do if they are? |
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GarlyDog Site Admin

Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 1720 Location: USA, Joliet, Illinois
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Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 2:46 am Post subject: |
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I have read that earwigs will eat just about anything organic, which includes honey from hives. I doubt that one earwig is a problem. I have also read that diatomaceous earth will act as a barrier for these buggers. I don't know about the bees chasing them out or not. |
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Tavascarow Silver Bee

Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 962 Location: UK Cornwall Snozzle
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Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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I have never found them a problem in conventional box hives.
I often find them under the roof but yet to see one on comb,
sure honey bees are able to deal with them if they need to. |
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biobee Site Admin

Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 1063 Location: UK, England, S. Devon
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Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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Earwigs (along with woodlice) have to be among the commonest and most widespread and versatile creatures on Earth. Lift a rock or a piece of dead wood just about anywhere and you will find a hundred of them. I find them in roofs all the time, and occasionally inside a hive, but they don't seem to bother the bees so I ignore them. |
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Norm Moderator Bee

Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 2974 Location: UK in winter, Sweden in summer
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Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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Ditto! Nothing to worry about.  |
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GarlyDog Site Admin

Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 1720 Location: USA, Joliet, Illinois
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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Here is the article where I read about Earwigs raiding beehives from Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
The reference is in the third paragraph.
http://vvv.caes.state.ct.us/FactSheetFiles/Entomology/fsen015f.htm
"They (earwigs) also have been observed raiding honey from honeybee hives."
Again, one earwig is probably nothing to worry about. |
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rose883 Guest
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks. We will be watching for them, but so far we have only seen the one, so we won't worry about it. |
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barkingmad Nurse Bee
Joined: 12 May 2014 Posts: 28 Location: Cannock Chase, Staffordshire
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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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I have lots in my tbh, I have just evicted about 30 and put them in the chicken coop to, hopefully, deal with my red mite infestation.
I read somewhere that they are quite partial to varroa too. Anyone else know that to be true? |
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biobee Site Admin

Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 1063 Location: UK, England, S. Devon
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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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Never seen them eat Varroa, but I bet they do! Earwigs eat pretty much anything. I see them in every hive and just let them get on with whatever they are doing. If they were a problem for bees, they would be evicted. |
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