Hey bug! You're bugging me! Here are tips for dealing with nuisance pests:

Earwigs: Tired of the stampede of earwigs from your fresh cut flowers? Try trapping them in your garden before bringing them inside. Provide dark hiding places during daylight hours, then round the heard up every 2-3 days, bag them and then dispose of the bag. Rolled/crumpled newspaper and rolled corrugated cardboard make great haciendas for these critters. If you want to use a bait, wheat bran or wheat germ have proven effective. Round ‘em up and move ‘em out.

Ants: Outside ants are a beneficial insect and are the hard working good guy. Ants can become a nuisance when they come inside, foraging for food. They may also form nests in unwanted areas, such as playgrounds or lawns. To keep ants out of the home, remove access to food. Use insecticides around the exterior foundation to kill foraging worker ants. Numerous insecticides are currently registered for general suppression of ants outdoors.

Wasps: If a wasp nest is not causing a problem the best solution is to wait until the nest is abandoned in the fall, then dispose of it. Paper wasps can be reduced by eliminating nesting sites before they move in. This is done by sealing all openings that allow access to hollow tubing or similar materials. Many types of children's playground equipment are suitable nesting sites by this wasp and should be given special attention. Active nests causing problems can be destroyed with an insecticide. Use these in the early morning when all wasps have returned to the nest and aren't active.

The authors have received training through Colorado State University Extension's Master Gardener program and is a Master Gardener volunteer for Larimer County.

Gardening and Insect Fact Sheets are available on-line by clicking HERE.

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This page updated:  August 7, 2008