In South Australia, the citrus lobby has been working with biological services experts to help growers detect, monitor and control European earwigs. Entomologist Dr Paul Horne and entomology consultant James Altman said the insects were widespread throughout the country, and mostly active at night during the cooler months.

Citrus SA president Mark Doecke said his citrus orchards in Ramco, in the state's Riverland region, had been ‘hammered’ by earwigs: "Some growers might be questioning whether they're doing something wrong with fertiliser and water, but it's actually earwigs.”

European earwigs typically live for about a year, hatching in early spring before moving to tree canopies. They can also be found hiding in areas such as bark crevices, fruit clusters, curled leaves and inside tree guards.

Doecke said citrus growers should check their orchards as early as possible.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com