In some regular maintenance I was cutting damaged hosta leaves. I know the slugs have to eat something, so I share a leaf or two. But when my scissors were travelling down the petiole I saw several earwigs. (Enemy # 1)

I've been noticing a great deal of damage on my clematis. Wanting to learn to 'know my enemy' and see if the earwigs had moved to the juicy deliciousness of my clematis, I went out at dark with a flashlight. I wasn't real sure how they behave or what part of the plants they like to eat. I first looked at Nelly; she was clean. Moved on to Marmori - OH MY! There isn't a part they don't like to eat. They were on the leaf tops, leaf bottoms, stamens, tepals, stems, trellis, ties, fence - you name it, they had invaded it. I immediately set out worcestershire & oil traps. (Remembered reading it somewhere)

What does everyone else do for earwigs? I don't mind keeping a balance - but the earwigs are quite populous.

Will I have to change my name to killermickie? Or wave a white flag when I visit their garden?

On a bright note, I read they eat slugs and I have seen very few slugs this year. Maybe I'd prefer slugs, though. They aren't as sneaky.

Please help. If you never hear from me again, it is because they came in the house and carried me away.

Desparate - Mickie