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In the garden, an abundance of earwigs can chew up plants and flowers, eat through fruits and vegetables, and generally leave a mess in area you want looking its best. Finding an earwig inside the home can be a problem, so most people don’t want to share their space with other pests. With that, here is how you know you have earwigs and what you can do to keep them out and away from the home. This is because decaying matter offers both shelter from the daylight and a reliable food source of organic matter. Earwigs can be found in almost any growing zone, although they are more likely to inhabit warm, humid climates.
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There are over 22 species of earwigs, or pincer bugs, thriving throughout the Northern and Western regions of the United States. Earwigs look for cool and damp environments, such as under paving stones, tree bark, dead logs, cracks in the soil, or buried deep inside flowers. Therefore, it is unlikely they will be an infestation in your home, but it is possible to see some stragglers inside with you. Earwigs are not an insect that you will typically find in large numbers. Dissimilar to insects like ants or bees, earwigs are more individual creatures.
Beware of These 14 Pests That Only Come Out at Night
Often, this can be in kitchen and bathroom areas or in gaps at the baseboards,' he adds. Whether it’s a good idea to banish earwigs isn’t as clear cut as the question of getting rid of fruit flies. John Melchior from Kapture Pest Control urges you to pause and decide whether you want to get rid of earwigs from your home. While this may seem like an easy answer, he explains that the creature does come with its benefits, especially if you're looking to preserve your best indoor plants. If you find that you must repeat any of these steps multiple times, you might have an earwig infestation. This is how you know it’s time to call in a professional pest control specialist who can help eradicate their nests and keep them from coming back.
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Contrary to its name, earwigs are really known as pincher bugs (and have nothing to do with our ears!). This is due to their two long pincers protruding at the end of their body, which makes this a distinct pest. So, if you're looking for an excuse to pick up one of the best dehumidifiers on the market, this expert has given you full permission. If you were to come in contact with an earwig, you might get pinched, but the insect will not emit any poison or break the skin.
Trap made of damp cloth
Cracks and crevices should be well sealed with a silicone-based caulk, steel wool or a combination of both. This practice includes sealing doors and windows, as well as attic and foundation vents. When startled or uncovered, earwigs will quickly move and run away. They can be found living together outdoors in large numbers, usually congregating under piles of lawn debris, mulch or in tree holes. This is a habit that scientists believe is caused by a pheromone produced by these insects.
Pepper Moran is a pest control expert with over five years experience in educating homeowners on affordable and earth-friendly ways to protect their homes from pests. Individual earwigs are not hard to kill, but getting rid of a large infestation is a more involved process. The main challenge is that earwigs hide in dark, cramped spaces during the day, making them difficult to find. Consider insecticides and pesticides, which come in liquid, powder, or granular forms, to combat earwig infestations.
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Other than these preventative measures, you can also resort to traps and other methods for controlling earwigs, which we will discuss next. Earwigs want a safe home to hide in throughout the day while they go out and feed at night. Get rid of leaf piles, old wood, mulch build up, and other excess vegetation. Keep gutters and downspouts clean and pointed away from the home to avoid damp or moist locations building up in and against the house. There are also steps you can take around and in your home to prevent future earwig problems. Check to make sure gutters and downspouts are clear and properly draining away from the house to prevent moisture build up that might attract earwigs.
Ways to Prevent and Get Rid of Earwigs—For Good
Most are not predaceous and instead feed on the live or decaying vegetation found in moist soil. As with most insects, light attracts earwigs, so the first step in preventing an infestation is to change your outdoor lighting. The best type of lighting to avoid attracting bugs outdoors is sodium lighting. Boric acid also eliminates cockroaches and other household pests, too.
Vacuum all areas
Then consider finding a local beekeeper to come and safely relocate the nest. Bee Culture has a nifty search tool for finding beekeepers across the US, but many states also have an online directory you can check, such as the New York State Beekeeper Club Directory. CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page.
They are most active at night and will hide during the day in dark, damp areas of your yard. Pop culture aside, in reality, earwigs are a common nuisance for many gardeners. You may have discovered half-eaten plants in the morning or experienced an unpleasant surprise by accidentally uncovering some of these pincher bugs while working around your garden. By studying how they behave and in what type of environments, you can arm yourself with information to better protect your garden and your home. When you notice an infestation of earwigs in your garden, you should try to rid of them before they become very destructive to your plants.
Like boxelder bugs, millipedes, and mole crickets, earwigs enter homes by accident or when seeking shelter from cold temperatures in the fall or periods of hot, dry weather in the summer. Use a large spoon to mix the soap into the water to create a sudsy solution. Place the bucket of soapy water outside in an area where earwigs are noticed frequently and set up a lamp with the light shining toward the bucket to attract them. Pour warm water into a bottle sprayer and add several drops of dish detergent.
Adults overwinter under garden debris, stones, and boards as well as in soil. Earwigs may enter your home as they search for darkness and moisture. Once inside your house, earwigs often settle in dark, damp areas such as basements, garages, and bathrooms. Especially if the laundry wasn’t quite dry yet and was sitting outside they easily get into it.
As earwigs are nocturnal, the best time to search for them is at night. Watch out for their defense mechanism—emitting a malodorous rotten smell when frightened. Amanda Rose Newton is a pest specialist and horticulture expert, reviewing pest control and gardening content for The Spruce's Cleaning and Gardening Review Board. Her passion for pest control and sustainable gardening allows her to review plant and pest content for best practices and accuracy.
