Problems With Earwigs in Beehives

Earwigs are not native to the United States, but were introduced in the early 20th century. Honeybees also were introduced from Europe, but at an earlier date, probably in the 17th century. Earwigs are natural scavengers and like to hide in small cracks and crevices, which has contributed to their spread across the United States. They do have a sweet tooth, which may be what leads them to beehives.

  1. Signs

    • Earwigs are found throughout North America.

      Earwigs like tight, dark areas in which to hide, so you will most likely find them hiding between the inner and outer covers of your hive or under the bottom board. They may leave molted skins behind them on the floor of the hive. Honeycomb caps that have been chewed open are a more subtle sign as the holes may be too small to see easily.

    Protection

    • Most hives that have earwigs are not impacted by them, as there may only be one or two earwigs present. Bees protect their hive fiercely and will sting invaders to death and then remove their carcass if small enough to move. Earwigs will be unable to access the brood in a strong hive and may serve as scavengers, helping keep the hive clean at the lowest level so they can avoid the workers.

    Weak Colonies

    • Earwigs may become a problem if a colony is weakened by disease, a swarm or a new colony. To prevent this, keep the hive small enough to allow the bees ready access to all areas of the hive. A small colony may cluster in one hive box, neglecting unused areas and allowing earwigs and other scavengers to enter and eat honey and the comb unmolested. The resulting wastes can introduce diseases. The loss of food supply can further harm the colony.

    Prevention

    • When storing beehives, clean the boxes thoroughly and store in a clean, dry area. The earwigs are most likely to enter the hive during storage to scavenge. Keeping the hives clean should prevent this and allow the use of boxes without hitchhiking pests making their way into the colonies. Fumigation can be done if necessary. Keep the hive bodies compact and suited to the colony so the workers can carry out their own pest control most efficiently.