THOSE NASTY EARWIGS AND BOXELDER BUGS...

    Today's subject are a couple of "thugish" insects which tend to plague some households.  The boxelder bug tends to be a perennial problem in certain geographical areas.  The earwig was a particular problem last year because of large amounts of even moisture.  Both of these insects can enter the home, but will do no damage.  The earwig (shown above to the left) derives its name from Colonial times when it was thought to be responsible for insanity in humans.  Some folks thought the earwig crawled into an unsuspecting, sleeping victim's ear at night and consumed their mind.  That's my excuse anyway!

    The boxelder bug generally lives within a quarter of a mile of a flood plane, such as a river bank.  For this reason, some folks never experience a single boxelder while other are deluged with vast numbers of them a couple of times a year.  The boxelder does not breed inside a home, but lays its eggs in the crevices of tree bark.  They feed on trees such as boxelder, maples, and ash, but they do no significant damage.  They adults do cling to sunny areas such as sunny walls of homes.  Cracks and crevices in a home may allow them to enter and over winter.  Warmth such as a furnace or a steam radiator can bring them out of dormancy causing them to become active in the home.  The same is true in the summer when they are naturally active and out in great numbers.  These bugs do no harm and may be vacuumed up or swept away with a broom.  Other preventative measures would to seal potential openings in your home with caulk.  This measure may also help with your energy bills.  It is impossible (and environmentally "bad") to spray an entire outdoor area to eliminate this critter.  You can spray your screens and doors with a pesticide if these guys are absolutely freaking you out.

    The earwig feeds on dead or decaying wood such as boards or mulch.  They no damage to living plants or the interior of your home.  Their appearance is quite menacing because of their sharp pinching tail.  Normally, they are not an issue, but there was a bumper crop of earwigs in 2000 around Fredericksburg because of all of the rain we had in the spring.  The same rules about control and "crack and crevice" entry apply to the earwig as does to the boxelder.  These guys can be a summer long pest and can be found in all geographical areas.  They really won't hurt you.

   Just as I cannot tolerate the presence of snakes, some people are very afraid of insects.  In these cases, I think controls are necessary.  The insects don't bother me and I have learned to live with the snakes.  The only time I have a problem is when someone picks up a snake and swings it in from of me saying, "See, they don't hurt you!"  It is courteous to respect peoples fears.  By the way, my wife's gonna kill me if I don't do something about those earwigs this year!