How to Get Rid of Earwigs in Your Home

Written by Kirstin Harrington
Published: March 28, 2023
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If you’ve ever seen an earwig, you might have the impression that it’s a dangerous insect that could injure you. That’s not the case, though. We’ll look at how to recognize earwigs in this tutorial, as well as how to get rid of them if they’ve established a home there.

What is an Earwig?

The insect known as an earwig has three body segments, six legs, two antennae, and a powerful pair of pincers on the base of its abdomen. According to the species, it has a size between five and 25 millimeters (0.20″-1″). 

Despite the possibility of finding an earwig in your ear, contrary to popular belief, earwigs do not deposit their eggs in human ear canals or consume brain tissue. Earwigs are generally thought to be harmless to people. When they invade gardens, flower gardens, and houses, they may, however, become a bothersome nuisance.

There are 22 different forms of earwigs in the United States, and there are over 1,000 known species worldwide. Earwigs enjoy living in huge groups. The pheromone aroma that these insects emit, according to scientists, is the reason why they band together. 

Some earwigs lack wings, whereas others do not. Rarely do they fly in either situation. Often these insects are nocturnal. They spend the day hiding in damp, cold areas and emerge to feed at night.

There are 22 different forms of earwigs in the United States

There are 22 different forms of earwigs in the United States, and there are over 1,000 known species worldwide.

©SIMON SHIM/Shutterstock.com

What Attracts Earwigs to Your Home?

It’s critical to comprehend the things and circumstances that attract earwigs if you find them in your home. Moist-adapted insects include earwigs. They, like many other insects, are drawn to dampness. 

They enjoy rotting or wet wood. Earwigs may be attracted to your property if you have a damaged or clogged gutter, a leaking faucet, or some other issue that allows moisture to accumulate within or around your property.

Plants are alluring to earwigs. These pests might be entering your home near the foundation to get to any gardens, whether they are vegetables, flowers, or other plants near your house. Around or under wet/decaying wood items, earwigs are frequently observed. 

Earwigs will adore you if you have building supplies, a woodpile, or any other moist wood next to your house. Under anything that keeps the earth moist, earwigs will set up camp. Tarps, boulders, sizable toys, railroad ties used to fence gardens, or any other item left on the ground are examples of things earwigs like to hide behind, particularly if there is flora around.

Earwigs are drawn to dampness

Earwigs, like many other insects, are drawn to dampness. 

©Mike Holmes/Shutterstock.com

Identifying Earwigs

European earwigs have the appearance of moving pinchers. It moves swiftly in the direction of cover while maintaining an elevated grip on its pinchers or forceps. It measures just over an inch in length and has long, thin antennae and a lengthy pincher at the back. 

Wing covers are on the dark brown body, while the legs are a lighter shade of brown. The eyes of this earwig are complex. If startled or if they are being held by an opponent, they quickly employ their pinchers. The pincers on the male are sharply bent. The female pinchers are straight.

European earwigs are nocturnal, extremely predatory arthropods that might be unsettling to find inside. They prefer to live underground, beneath stones, and in rotting wood. They occasionally infiltrate houses through foundation cracks or with plants. 

In the fall, female earwigs may lay up to 90 eggs in the ground before hibernating during the winter. 

European earwig

The male European earwig has curved pincers while the female’s are straight.

©iStock.com/Jonathan Steinbeck

Are Earwigs Dangerous?

They don’t cause many issues once inside. Although they don’t bite, if threatened, they might pinch. Their pincers barely harm humans and aren’t extremely powerful. They might also be carrying dangerous bacteria that, if exposed, might potentially infect an open wound, but that’s not very common. They seem fairly innocent, don’t they?

Earwigs, regrettably, could be a sign of a deeper issue that you are dealing with. If you encounter earwigs in your house, it signifies that they are satiating this life requirement somewhere inside since they’re drawn to damp, moist, and gloomy locations. 

Your home’s structure might be suffering from water damage. Without regular gutter repair, water frequently leaks down the façade and causes wood rot. Earwigs are one of the many pests, similar to rodents, that are drawn to wood decay. This can quickly add up and hurt your pocketbook! 

How to Get Rid of Earwigs

Now that you’re practically an expert on these little pests, how on earth do you get rid of them? Thankfully, there are easy and affordable DIY methods that will show earwigs who’s boss! 

Vacuum

By using your vacuum, you may use a handheld one to catch the bugs outside – you can clean up and get earwigs away from your home while doing so. After sucking them up, be sure to either instantly throw away the vacuum bag or dump the canister into a bowl of soapy water.

Keep Up Your Yard

Do you need the inspiration to get the yard work done? Earwigs enjoy eating decaying vegetation, but they disperse when their soil is disturbed. Getting rid of yard debris such as dead leaves can deter those pests. If you discover them on your plants, you can spritz the plants with a solution made of warm water and a few drops of dish soap.

Household Products

It’s possible that you already possess the tools required to combat earwigs. Take a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and water mixed in. Spray immediately on earwigs to instantly kill them. 

Olive oil and soy sauce can be used to create a trap. Place the container with the mixture in a location where you last spotted earwigs. The liquid will trap the bugs after they fall in due to the smell’s irresistibility.

Set Traps

Traps can aid in lowering the earwig population around your home. A magazine or a piece of cardboard that has been folded up is one of the simplest traps to utilize. The earwigs will hide in this if you leave it out. Pick up your trap in the morning and dump the earwigs into a basin of soapy water. You might also consider creating an oil trap or a trap out of straw and terracotta pots.

Boric Acid

Mike Duncan, Nolen’s Technical Manager, advises that boric acid is just as effective in your battle against earwigs. He advises cautiously adding acid to any cracks you see pest activity in. If there is a lot of dampness, earwigs will shelter in cracks and crevices. This can frequently be found in the kitchen, basements, and bathroom or in cracks at the baseboards. 

Pesticides

Before treating your entire garden, test a small amount of the insecticide on a single leaf to see if it has any of the ingredients sevin, malathion, pyrethrins, or diazinon. Also, it is advisable to use treatments the night before the earwigs start eating.

Dehumidifier

While purchasing a new dehumidifier won’t guarantee that any earwigs already there won’t return, it will increase the likelihood. Using a dehumidifier will help remove some of the moisture, which will help make your home undesirable for earwigs and silverfish. 

Preventing Future Infestations

Clean gutters helps defend against earwigs

Earwigs love to travel to backed-up gutters that produce wet patches close to and against the home so make sure you keep your gutters clean.

©iStock.com/IndyEdge

Make sure they don’t return once you’ve eliminated all the earwigs you found within your house and nearby. Here are some suggestions to stop earwigs from coming back to your property. 

Start by verifying that any windows that have screens for protection are completely intact. To prevent an entry point for earwigs into the house, patch up any gaps in the window screens. To scavenge and survive, earwigs seek out areas that are chilly and damp. 

Keep an eye out for any possibly leaky drains or pipes throughout your house. To help destroy the ideal setting for earwigs, fix these leaky hot places. A natural habitat outdoors with a good food source and protection is preferred by earwigs. 

Eliminate any mounds of stones, leaves, or decaying wood that could serve as an earwig haven. Make sure you thoroughly clean your gutters and direct drains far from your property. Earwigs love to travel to backed-up gutters that produce wet patches close to and against the home.

There you have it! Now you’re one step closer to having an earwig-free home. Be sure to try more than one method if needed! 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Pudding4brains - Public Domain


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About the Author

Kirstin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering animals, news topics, fun places, and helpful tips. Kirstin has been writing on a variety of topics for over five years. She has her real estate license, along with an associates degree in another field. A resident of Minnesota, Kirstin treats her two cats (Spook and Finlay) like the children they are. She never misses an opportunity to explore a thrift store with a coffee in hand, especially if it’s a cold autumn day!

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