zorra578
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Earwigs edible? - 2007/08/08 03:05
As most people in the midwest know, I'm not sure if it's the same everywhere else, but its earwig season. The time of year that you pretty much walk into every room and see at least one earwig. I'm so used to them that I just tend to leave them be since I've never found them a nuisance: they don't buzz, they don't climb into your food, and they usually stay in the same spot. So I've never thought much about them.
Today I went to go change Quentin's water and found an earwig floating in it. I never thought about them getting into Quent's cage. It was odd to find it there uneaten in an insectivore's cage.  Will he naturally ignore another earwig if it crawls in there or is this something I should be concerned about?
Jessica
Des Plaines, IL
My critter list: Dilbert (welsh terrier), Bowser R.I.P. (betta fish), Quentin (hedgehog). |
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CThogs
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Re:Earwigs edible? - 2007/08/08 06:09
Well now I know a lot more about earwigs than I ever wanted to
A bunch of different sites say they aren't poisonous so I would not be overly concerned, but I would try to minimize the amount that get near the cage. They eat decaying matter and other bugs so they could be carrying diseases or other nasties if Quentin did decide to eat one.
http://www.citynews.ca/blogs/frankieflowers_13036.aspx
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/stateline/980702.html
Sounds like you could put a dish of vegetable oil or a dark hiding spot near the cage to trap them before they get into the cage.
Ann
Connecticut Hedgehogs
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clutterbuster
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Re:Earwigs edible? - 2007/08/08 06:22
earwigs like dark moist places, the first thing I did after my parents died was rip out the old Yew bushes near the house - the had been living there for decades. At present I see them only in wooden mailbox along side the road.
And I would be concerned about any wild bugs that carry parasites. That is the one reason why I've been reluctant about taking my hedgies out into the screenhouse for if there is a bug in the grass P-k will eat it. I am thinking about trying the critterball for grass play so P-k isn't exploring through the blades finding bugs.
I found a little hoppy beetle in Max's bin, must have just flown by and dropped in. Made me nervous but Max doesn't do insects so he ignored him and I was able to scoop and flush'em.
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zorra578
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Re:Earwigs edible? - 2007/08/08 07:28
Thanks guys, I'll try the vegetable oil thing since ripping out the bushes from my grandma's house is probably not an option.  I'm pretty decent with entomology and know they aren't poisonous, but still got worried. My mom accidentally ate an earwig when she drank one up from her coffee last summer and was sick for a few days so I wondered if they might have some chemicals in them that make for unsettled stomachs. Did not know they ate decayed matter nor could carry parasites. I'll keep a closer eye on Quent when I take him outside though he hasn't snatched any bugs up yet, just snoots around.
Jessica
Des Plaines, IL
My critter list: Dilbert (welsh terrier), Bowser R.I.P. (betta fish), Quentin (hedgehog). |
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aislinsadia
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Re:Earwigs edible? - 2007/08/08 08:46
I live in the mid-west also, and being in an apartment now I am lucky that I don't see many! I would also be concerned about them getting near your hedgie because although they aren't poisonous, they can still pinch like a little mofo and if it can hurt me, I can only imagine what it would feel like to a small animal with such sensitive skin already
*~*Steph*~*
Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittens), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), Aries & Artemis (fancy guppies), Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs), and Squiggles (Blue Mystery Snail) |
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clutterbuster
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Re:Earwigs edible? - 2007/08/08 12:18
another thing you have to worry about from outdoor bugs is PESTICIDES and that is probably what was on the outside of the earwig your mom drank - I don't think they have any natural chemicals but may have ingested something in their travels.
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HamorHollow
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Re:Earwigs edible? - 2007/08/08 16:55
I see the tpoic name of this thread, and I just can't help but think of 'Bernie Bott's Every Flavored Beans'. Maybe it's because I'm about 1/2 way through the last book.
Speaking of which, did they change the name of the beans in the last book? I thought I saw them in the store under another name (made by Jelly Belly).
-K
Kelly Sosik-Hamor
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aislinsadia
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Re:Earwigs edible? - 2007/08/08 17:48
I don't think they changed the name in the book, but there may have been copywrite issues with Jelly Belly, who knows 
*~*Steph*~*
Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittens), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), Aries & Artemis (fancy guppies), Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs), and Squiggles (Blue Mystery Snail) |
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Etzos
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Re:Earwigs edible? - 2007/08/08 18:14
HamorHollow wrote:
I see the tpoic name of this thread, and I just can't help but think of 'Bernie Bott's Every Flavored Beans'. Maybe it's because I'm about 1/2 way through the last book.
Speaking of which, did they change the name of the beans in the last book? I thought I saw them in the store under another name (made by Jelly Belly).
-K
The last book is so sad. It was like midnight, and this person died (wont say who) and I started crying! I didn't even realize that it was a book I was so into it!
http://www.freewebs.com/wicket61807/index.htm |
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