Earwig Control: Identification, Remediation and Prevention

Earwigs can be a serious home and garden pest if not removed quickly. Though there’s debate on whether they actually benefit your lawn and garden, most find these pests ruin a variety of plants and flowers and can damage books and paper in the home.

You can prevent and control earwigs by reducing moisture, sealing entry points, and using appropriate treatments such as insecticides or traps. Read on to learn how to identify earwigs and how to get rid of these insects both naturally and chemically.

Identifying Earwigs

Earwigs are slender, fast-moving outdoor insects with two pairs of wings and a set of pincers or forceps that protrude from their abdomens. The pincers are used as a defense mechanism. Earwigs have medium-sized bodies (as long as 1 ¼ inch) that are typically black or brown and a head that’s usually a reddish color. Depending on the species, some earwigs have stripes on their heads or limbs.

Similar to sugar ants, earwigs produce a pheromone (scent) trail that allows them to cluster in large numbers. Some earwig species will even give off a foul-smelling liquid when defending themselves. While earwigs may look intimidating, they’re not known to harm humans, carry poison, or spread disease.

What Do Earwigs Eat?

Earwigs are nocturnal feeders that primarily eat plants, vegetation, fruit, and decaying organic matter, such as piles of leaves and mulch (explore some nontraditional mulch alternatives). Some earwigs also feed on other insects. Inside the home, earwigs will eat greasy food residue or items with a high cellulose content, such as newspaper.

Earwig Life Cycle

Earwigs have three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Females lay their eggs in the soil during fall or winter, and the nymphs emerge in the spring. Nymphs resemble adults but are smaller and lack wings. As they grow, they molt several times before reaching adulthood in late summer or early fall.

Where Do Earwigs Live?

More than 20 species of earwigs are found in the United States. Most types prefer undisturbed outdoor hiding places that are wet and cool. During the day, they hide in cracks and crevices, under rocks, in logs and within flowerbeds. Since earwigs are attracted to light, you might also find them flocking to your porch or patio lights.

Earwigs in Your Home

While most earwigs stay outdoors, some may seek shelter in your home during drought-like conditions or when the weather gets cooler. They’ll enter your house through cracks and crevices in your walls and foundation or through open windows and doors. Once they get inside, they’re drawn to damp, dark areas such as basements, bathrooms, and kitchens.

Once earwigs are inside your house, decaying materials or items with a high cellulose content (such as books and newspapers) will be the main point of attraction for them. You may also find earwig damage on houseplants.

Earwigs in Your Garden

Outside, earwigs also prefer cool, moist environments. They hide under rocks, logs, mulch, and debris during the day and come out at night to feed on plants, organic matter, and insects. Earwigs are particularly attracted to gardens with dense foliage or thick mulch, as these provide ample hiding spots and moisture. They may damage vegetable gardens, marigolds, dahlias and fruit trees.

How To Get Rid of Earwigs

Whether you prefer natural or chemical treatment, there’s a variety of methods to remove earwigs from your home and garden:

• Reduce outdoor lighting — Since adult earwigs are attracted to light, turn off your porch lights at night or reduce their brightness.
• Fix leaky faucets — Earwigs are attracted to moisture, so tend to any leaky faucets and clean up any pools of water underneath your sinks.
• Seal entry points — Eliminate gaps, including around your doors and windows, to stop earwigs from entering your home.
• Use a homemade trap — Place a burlap sack on mulch and shrubbery and wait for earwigs to crawl into it. You can also use corrugated cardboard, rolled-up newspaper, or bamboo poles. Because earwigs like undisturbed, cool places, they’ve been found to flock to these types of coverings. Trap any earwigs that gather under the cover and discard them.
• Outdoor insecticides — Apply insecticide treatment in the spring or summer (preferably in the late afternoon) around your home’s foundation, garden, and crawl spaces. Treat in a three- to six-foot band around the building to prevent earwigs from entering your house. Consider using LambdaStar UltraCap 9.7 — this product is odorless, long lasting, and can be used indoors or outdoors.
• Indoor insecticides — If you’re trying to get rid of earwigs inside your house, use a crack and crevice aerosol where earwigs tend to lay eggs. Apply the pesticide along baseboards and beneath cabinets to kill adults and larvae.
• Contact a professional pest control service — It may be difficult to get rid of an earwig infestation on your own. If you’re having trouble removing these insects, call a pest management company such as Orkin or Terminix. These providers specialize in getting rid of earwigs from homes and gardens.

How To Prevent Earwigs

Here’s how you can make your home less attractive to earwigs and keep them from getting in:

• Avoid placing stones in your garden that earwigs can hide under
• Avoid layering mulch more than two inches deep
• Clean out gutters and make sure they’re positioned to carry water away from your home
• Rake leaves and other debris and remove them from your yard
• Since earwigs are attracted to damp areas, use dehumidifiers in your bathrooms or basement
• Regularly vacuum floors and upholstered furniture and wipe down countertops
• Caulk cracks and crevices in your walls and foundation

Final Thoughts

Earwig control is crucial for maintaining a healthy home and garden. First, you need to identify the earwig infestation and then develop a plan to eliminate it.

Remember to focus on reducing moisture, sealing entry points, and using appropriate control methods. In most cases, you can keep your property free from these pesky invaders with DIY methods. However, if you can’t remove the earwigs on your own, I recommend hiring a pest control company.