Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[rose883]

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?

[GarlyDog]

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.

[Tavascarow]

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.

[biobee]

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.

[Norm]

Ditto! Nothing to worry about.

[GarlyDog]

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.

[rose883]

Thanks. We will be watching for them, but so far we have only seen the one, so we won't worry about it.

[barkingmad]

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?

[biobee]

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.