10 Ways To Get Rid Of Earwigs, According To Experts

It’s unsettling when an earwig scuttles across your floor with its fearsome-looking pinchers. But spotting one doesn’t mean you necessarily a huge problem. “Earwigs typically are occasional invaders,” says Faith Oi, PhD, entomologist and extension professor at the University of Florida. “If you see one in your home, it’s lost and wandering around looking for food or shelter. They’re not normally found in large numbers indoors.”

Generally, earwigs are annoying but far less worrisome than ants in your pantry or cockroaches running across the kitchen floor. “They’re usually hiding, so you may not notice them until you unearth them,” says Eric Benson, PhD, professor emeritus and extension entomologist with Clemson University. “They’re found any place that retains moisture and has organic matter for them to eat.”

Fortunately, you don’t have to fret about the old superstition that they’ll enter your ears when you’re sleeping to lay eggs. That’s simply an urban legend. They also don’t carry diseases so they aren’t harmful to people or pets, and they don’t damage structures, says Oi.

How To Get Rid of Earwigs

Fortunately, most of the time these pests are a nuisance, rather than a serious problem.  They’re typically not difficult to manage with these tips from Benson and Oi:

• Reduce places where earwigs hide. Pull mulch back from the foundation of your house; instead, consider using a 12 to 18-inch wide stone or gravel border for a less hospitable environment. Eliminate thick groundcovers, such as English ivy, right up against the house.
• Clean gutters regularly, and make sure downspouts direct water away from your home’s foundation.
• Stack firewood away from your house, not up against your home.
• Block obvious entry points. Make sure there’s a door sweep under doors, and apply weather stripping or caulk around windows or other gaps where they may enter.
• Choose a door mat that dries quickly.
• Check for hitchhikers when bringing items in from outdoors, such as firewood, plants, or boxes from the garage.
• Correct indoor moisture problems or leaks.
• Vacuum up or squish them, if it’s just an occasional intruder.
• For persistent populations, consider an outdoor treatment. Look for sprays or granules specifically labeled for earwigs and outdoor use. For all pesticides, keep kids and pets away, and follow label instructions.
• Get help. If you can’t figure out where earwigs are coming from, or you have large numbers that keep coming indoors, you may want to consult a professional pest control firm.

Identifying Earwigs

Earwigs are long, flat 1/2- to 3/4-inch long insects that are light red-brown to black. Some types have stripes, and adults have small wings, though they rarely fly. The most readily identifiable feature is, of course, the forceps-like curved pinchers on the end of the abdomen, which they use to protect themselves or to catch prey. Earwigs don’t bite, though you might get a (tiny) pinch if you pick one up,  says Benson.

Understanding Earwigs

Over the course of its lifespan of about seven months, the female earwig can lay 50 eggs in a tunnel in the top few inches of soil. Unlike many insects, earwigs care for their young for a short time after they hatch. Earwigs eat mostly decaying plant matter. But, in large numbers, they can damage crops, ornamental plants, and vegetables, says Benson. Some types of earwigs also eat other insects, such as aphids or mites.

Earwigs are mostly nocturnal and prefer cool, damp areas. They hide out in cracks and in protective spots such as under mulch, piles of boards, flower pots, rocks, firewood, doormats, and in crawl spaces. Sometimes you may find them under carpeting that’s gotten wet, such as in a basement, says Benson. They also may hitchhike indoors on potted plants or firewood.