Earwig Solutions for tabletop strawberries
Shield B3
A non-drying insect blockade glue, for use against crawling insects
Shield B3 is a non-drying insect blockade glue for use against crawling insects such as earwigs from migrating into the crop.
How to use
Place Shield B3 at the top of tabletop legs at the beginning of the cropping season, prior to earwig migration in April/May (UK). Coat an even band of the glue around the circumference of the leg, not leaving any gaps for insects to pass through.
Key advantages
Prevents crawling insects such as earwigs from migrating up structures
High tack adhesive
Quick and easy application
Can be kept for up to 3 years in storage
Non-toxic
Product code:
PCT-050-SB3 (3L)
PCT-050-SB10 (10L)
Preventative measure
Forficula auricularia Lure
The Forficula auricularia Lure is a non-toxic, insecticide free, natural food source
How to use
Place one trap and lure every 40 m down every table from spring untill the end of cropping.
This graph illustrates earwig choice preference comparing the cumulative time earwigs spent with the Forficula auricularia Lure and a standard lure commonly used in other commercial baits.
The EarwigCatcher Trap is used for live trapping and monitoring of earwigs in tabletop strawberries. Pair the EarwigCatcher with the Forficula auricularia Lure, a highly attractive bait for effective trapping of the European earwig.
Key advantages
The universal trap hook allows for quick and easy placement on the tabletop Earwigs can be collected and released in apple and pear orchards where earwigs are considered an important biological control agent The trap is green in colour to increase the traps catch of the European earwig High capacity to hold many earwigs
Monitoring
The EarwigCatcher & Forficula auricularia Lure was developed by Russell IPM with support through Innovate UK funding and in collaboration with Niab East Malling.
Russell IPM have developed strategic solutions against earwigs in tabletop strawberries with the aim to provide the opportunity for earwigs to be released in apple and pear orchards as a biological control agent.
Earwigs - Friend & Foe
Earwigs are valuable biological control agents in apple and pear orchards feeding on economically important pests such as the codling moth, pear sucker and woolly apple aphid. However, for tabletop strawberries when populations are high earwigs can cause economic damage. Earwigs are omnivorous causing damage to leaves, flowers, feed on biological control agents, and burrow in and feed on strawberries, rendering them unmarketable.
Risk period UK
In spring earwigs travel up tabletop legs from the ground and from under Mypex and reside under grow bags in tabletop gutters where it is humid. Earwigs are nocturnal and are most noticeable from July to August before they prepare for hibernation in early autumn.
Еarwig damage on a strawberry