European Earwig, Forficula auricularia(photo from Wikipedia)
Working at my community garden plot yesterday I encountered this insect for the first time. I have come across the smaller native species before but not this one. Peeling back layers of mulch they scattered everywhere, all with their forecep pincers raised in defence. Apparently this earwig was first recorded in New South Wales in 1934 and can be a pest amongst fruit and vegetable crops.In my case they had been dining on small seedlings and leaving them with a ragged appearance. A solution for dealing with them was given on Gardening Australia last night. Leave out a shallow dish of oil with some added soy sauce and the earwigs which feed at night will come running to it.
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