Pincher bugs, what to do..????

[orchidea]

I want to order a portable GH (6'x8'x7' high) for the summer to place it on my deck. My red wood deck is elevated about 2 feet up from the ground and has pincher bugs populating it. I know that because they totaly mowed my dill and basil last summer. I could see a lot of them on my plants (not orchids) when I was walking out on to my deck late at night. I even found them once in my orchid (Catt) pot...... inside my house....!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess they are attracted to fragrant plants.
I almost ordered this GH, when I suddenly remembered this obstacle.
What do I do????????
Please HELP me to make a decision!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should I keep my Chids inside just because of these bugs????
Please keep in mind, I hate to kill anything.........

[Choodles]

trapping them works well- google "earwig traps" and you'll find a host of options. I say this instead of trying to explain it because, well, the links I found explain it much better than I could...

I'd take the 'chids outside, no matter what. I deal with fire ants every year, which isn't exactly a barrel of monkeys, but the positive effects of Ma Nature on the orchids make the ant problem bearable.

Happy growing!
choodles

[Brooke]

choodles you have fire ants in Maine? I thought they were confined to the south.

Brooke

[sruane]

Don't fire ants (I'm talking about "the fire ant", Solenopsis invicta, although plenty of other species of ants do sting as well that are native) only go as far North as maybe SC? They are invasive from South America and have only been in this country since I think the 60's, when they came into Mobile, AL on a cargo ship.

However, there is an ineresting link here that says if you do live up North, and you think you have fire ants, it should be reported, since they are such a problem. Here's the link Imported Fire Ant - FAQ

[Choodles]

Mea culpa. I'm referring to European Fire Ants, Myrmica rubra. Common names suck, and I should know better. I apologize for the confusion.

But, yes we have stinging, small, red ants that fiercely defend their nests. They seem to prefer wet clay areas. They were introduced; probably through introduced ornamental landscape plants, probably in the midcoast or downeast regions, probably about 100 years ago (this comes from a former professor of mine, an entomologist, who is working on the infestation)

[Hummer344]

You can make your own trap for pincher bugs. Take a section of newspaper, dampen it, roll it up and put it in the area where the bugs are. They love to burrow into it during the night then, during the day you can dispose of the paper, bugs and all.

[sruane]

Ah, now I got it Choodles, that def. makes sense. I think it's pretty fair to use fire ant when referring to any small stinging ant as a common name. I think most people who've had experience with fire ants (the S. invicta) though assume it's the invasive one in the Southern US and to think it was as far North as Maine was a little surprising! Unpleasant to deal with them either way!

[Brooke]

Choodles we have that type here too. We call them "small red ants", as opposed to our red ants, black ants, big black ants, and as my dear Mom used to call some, pizz ants which are the small black ants.

Brooke

[royalkat]

The rolled newspaper works well! I soak mine with some beer, (if I ever have any left, hehe). Nothing gives me more satisfaction than popping it in a bag, tying it off, then doing a little dance on it.

[sunshine]

EWWWWWWWW ear wigs. Very common here in Maine. I found a daylily infested with them when I went to cut back in the fall. Sevin dust or spray works really well on these little buggers.

I get them little pizz ants first thing in the spring/early summer. More a nuisance than anything. I sprinkle Sevin dust around the front of my trailer and put some ant traps in the house. if you can't find ant traps old out dated snuff like SKOAL, Copenhagen works really well Just poke a few hole in the side of the container. No fire ants up here.Too cold.

[FLBob]

I grow my whole collection outside in Florida so I'm forced to deal with a whole host of insects. My first line of defense is my garden hose. A hard stream of water will send almost anything flying. So go ahead a get your greenhouse and blast those pitcher bugs. Oh one down side to using a water stream to water and move any insects is that plastic pots won't keep the plant upright.
Also place screen or weed barrier fabric under the gh. The fewer points of entry to the GH the easier the job.

[vanda_obsession]

I have problems with 'butt pincher bugs' (earwigs) during a rainy season, they love dark moist areas! We had a horrible time with them last year because our A/C unit in our apartment leaked for a whole year (lazy apt manager wouldn't fix it right the first time) and they were thriving in that area. I also deal with a new pest called a Kudzu bug, from what I see they don't seem to harm the plants, but whenever I water them inside they sure do put off a major stink!!! I had so many on my vanda one day while watering it in the shower I had to febreeze the bathroom cause it stunk so bad! I also have problems with a type of red ant as well as what we call the solitary (soldier) ants or 'oak' ants. Not sure of their proper name, but when they bite you it almost feels like a bee sting. nasty little buggers. For the ants I sprinkle chili pepper powder on the tops of sphag/hydro/bark one time and that generally will last me through the times that the ants are bad.