Northwest Palms

Earwig problem

Anyone else have a problem with earwigs and potato bugs digging into the growth point of Trachycarpus fortunei and wagnerianus? I've had to spray one of mine twice this year and that one has not grown much at all all year. I wonder if they have been stunting it's growth.

The following thread was started by Matt in Tukwila on August 25, 2008 at 5:46 pm PST

I have them in my bananas!!!! They seem to be everywhere this year and I do have them in my trachy's spear area. I havent noticed any damage though.

The above followup was added by Bryce on August 25, 2008 at 6:05 pm PST.

Like you, I also have a problem with my
Trachycarpus Fortunei here in England.
Mine the spear looks half dead. full of woodlice but they are not the propblem, and it's growth has been stunted, and I have two the same. What have you done to curl this problem, I've been told about powders and sprays, but yet to try them.

The above followup was added by Nick on August 26, 2008 at 6:03 am PST.

I discovered a bunch of them in the tight upper bunch of leaves on my yucca rostrata (I am sure there is a proper name for that part of the plant but I don't know it) and right at that point the leaves were discolored and breaking. Research (reading) points to them not doing the damage but I don't know if I buy that. They are also around my banana's, potato vine and sempervivum.

The above followup was added by Loree, Portland on August 26, 2008 at 12:24 am PST.

My grandma used to wedge large pieces of rolled/crumpled slightly moist cloth between tree branches overnight or longer. She would periodically take them out and shake out the accumulated earwigs in the chicken enclosure. The chicken disposed of them in a nanosecond.

I believe the same method could work with palms. An old T-shirt would be suitable. Place the moist bundle between a leaf base and the trunk near the crown. Do not leave it in the same place for more than a day as it could encourage rot. If you don't have chicken :), shake it out away from your garden.

Alex

The above followup was added by Alex, Portland, Oregon (8b) on August 26, 2008 at 9:06 pm PST.

We usually have earwigs in our artichokes but didn't find many this year. I don't know why. I think some of these bigger bugs could probably be good as bait for fishing.
John S
PDX OR

The above followup was added by John S on August 26, 2008 at 11:33 pm PST.