EARWIGS?!?!?! help me please

Hi everyone. indoor grow. this is my 4th harvest. Ive battled fungus gnats over and over again and I seem to have that tackled and when I go in this morning to check my babies I notice small bugs that look just like earwigs, but no pinchers. WTF??!!

I use organic miracle grow soil. and I use general organics nutes. cfl grow. I dont think you need all that information but it is there incase you do. I have searched through a bunch of forums but no one offers and good advice.

My camera is crappy and the bugs are too small to take a pitcure. but they look exactly like an earwig does but with no pinchers (that I can see) can you please offer me any advice.
also my plant is Moby Dick and she is 2weeks till harvest.

because of the gnats, I have a thick layer about 2inches of sand convering the top layer of soil. so the gnats can not penetrate , I see no gnats but earwigs :'(

what to do , what to do.......

Hey dude - firstly, i'm sorry to say but i aint got much clue what the problem might be - my only advice would be that before u can fix it u really do need to find out what type of bugs they are, as certain cures are species specific. So i'd suggest try searching google or wiki or a natural history or science website for soil breeding insects, common plant infestations, etc - basically try & find a site with pics so u can compare visually to make sure ur critters match the name on screen. If not, even going to a local library & asking for an insect guide book would be worthwhile as they'd easily have such guides in natural history/biology sections. Or if u wanna, even try emailing the company who made the soil (assuming it aint from backyard!) and ask have they any literature or guides with photos they can send u on common soil bug problems, etc.

Then once u found out what they are, then u can search online for best treatments - sorry if this sounds like basic shit u already tried anyway dude. Otherwise if they're just small earwig size, then they dont multiple as quick as gnats so u should be able to eliminate most by just diligently picking them out the soil every time u see any.

But secondly, my main reason for writing was to say that is an awesome cat under a pile of bud pic u have on ur profile pic!! Totally brilliant!

you like my weed kitty thank you. I guess I should probably do some sort of insect search for the area and state that I live in. I bet that has something to do with it. I live in a very hot and humid area. for fuck sake. this is why I want to go hydro, less bugs that way.

ok so basically I need to do more research. got it. thanks for the response. as soon as I find out what it is Im coming back. but Im pretty sure its some type of earwig.

i know earwigs like it damp/moist...just like gnats....have you been using the miracle grow organic every grow? if so i think that is the problem...i have used miracle grow soil many times and have had great success ..but their organics choice was not good..it stayed too damp and just retained too much water.....i would suggest different soil and losing the sand.

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/
this will help you work out what bug it is. best site i ever come across for bug info and close up pics. only site that had detailed info on springtails that i get in coco. it also has info on what to do. really is a good site. hope it helps

Yay! See, we have a winner! Well done Spits and well done to the internet too!

Looks a real cool site dude though My Word are there some dirty fuckers on there! lol!

Corso312 said:

i know earwigs like it damp/moist...just like gnats....have you been using the miracle grow organic every grow? if so i think that is the problem...i have used miracle grow soil many times and have had great success ..but their organics choice was not good..it stayed too damp and just retained too much water.....i would suggest different soil and losing the sand.

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Grrrrrr yes I have been using the same dirt. and I did have a moisture problem. and I noticed the earwigs when the lights first came on, because I went back in there to kill them and they are "gone". well thanks for the info, I am definitely going to switch soils. what kind of soil do you use?

spitsbuds said:

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/
this will help you work out what bug it is. best site i ever come across for bug info and close up pics. only site that had detailed info on springtails that i get in coco. it also has info on what to do. really is a good site. hope it helps

Click to expand...

thanks for the site, I will check it out and see if it helps me

Roaches ? ...........

i use 2 parts sunshine 4...1 part miracle grow and 1 part worm casting and compost ...i never use the barky miracle grow..only the reg miracle grow that has perlite. the problem with that barky/woody miracle grow is that when it dries it gets too dry and takes a lot of water to re hydrate...so you have to over water and it dries too slow ...so it stays wet too long.

just mix some neem oil in with your nutes and it will take care of any bugs in the soil............

Corso312 said:

i use 2 parts sunshine 4...1 part miracle grow and 1 part worm casting and compost ...i never use the barky miracle grow..only the reg miracle grow that has perlite. the problem with that barky/woody miracle grow is that when it dries it gets too dry and takes a lot of water to re hydrate...so you have to over water and it dries too slow ...so it stays wet too long.

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yes that describes perfectly the way this dirt is.

del66666 said:

just mix some neem oil in with your nutes and it will take care of any bugs in the soil............

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I do have neem oil. can you please tell me how much to use in 1 gal of water. will it effect my plant if she is 2 weeks till harvest?


also Im sorry, I know I could probably read the directions on the neem oil bottle but I would rather ask as experienced grower on RIU first. thanks

for a gallon of water i would add 5 teaspoons of neem but you want to mix it with a little tepid water and a few drops of non perfume washing up liquid to emulsify then add to your nute mix...

make sure you are not whacking a good bug. maybe they are ruby-throated mite-eaters or some shit like that. are they eating your plant?

scroglodyte said:

make sure you are not whacking a good bug. maybe they are ruby-throated mite-eaters or some shit like that. are they eating your plant?

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absolutely....could be harmless...

cant answer your question but i do no that fungus gnats love warm soil, im guessing your temps must be 85+? try and get it cooler and dont leave dead leaves lieng on your medium and you shouldnt have a problem with fungus gnats