First off let me tell you I broke my camera today. So sad. I had the strap clipped inside my Ergo (baby carrier) strap. When I took my youngin' off my back I dropped the camera and it bounced and came apart. So, these are pics from my phone. Not too shabby I must say, I'm impressed with my phone at the moment.
So this is how I trick earwigs into a firey death. That's right, death. First, we have to understand that earwigs and sow bugs (and rolly polies) love decaying matter. Love it. Thrive on it. Unless you have a crazy infestation of said buggers (and for the record, sow bugs and rolly polies are NOT insects, they are isopods which are more closely related to crabs than to insects!) your blamed buggers are not the culprits. The added bonus of sow bugs et all is that sow bugs (et all) need moisture to live. NEED it. They can be found in the quiet, moist, luxurious cracks of things. I don't blame them. I like it there too. I'd string a hammock and I bet they would too. Now it's important to know that they really won't go after something live and fresh. Usually. Slugs. The word itself is dirty but it's important to realize that slugs and snails are the usual culprits to damage to seedlings and strawberries and greens and .... They really are the ones to blame most of the time. The slugs and snails do their damage while the sun rests and then the sow bugs (et all) move in to clean things up because that is their nature and I can only imagine we should be glad for that job they do! But... if things are out of hand we must protect our food. First, go out at night and get rid of those dang slugs. Pull them off. Throw them to your chickens or give them a good stomp. Do it regularly. Enjoy the moon and the (coming) summer wind. Love every second because soon it will be winter again! (shhh)
Collect straw/grass clipping/pulled weeds and shove the into a pot/broken gourd/mason jar, whatever! Turn upside down and rest on a stick that has been driven into the ground. I find I have the best success when the upturned container is several inches off the ground. Check container daily, be careful to not let them drop out when you check -- I do it over a paper bag and throw it in the fire.
