How To Get Rid Of Earwigs And Their Wrath
October 13th, 2009 Posted in Ornamental & Lawn Pests
Are earwigs dangerous? Named after the European superstition that they climb into your ears at night and bore into your brain, earwigs are actually harmless to humans and animals alike. They do, however, have a frightful appearance and emit a repulsive smell from their scent glands.
Not the most appealing insect to have around, they tend to stay outdoors and are only drawn indoors sometimes by things like greasy food and light. They prefer moisture to hot and humid conditions, thus why they sometimes come inside homes, garages, etc.
Want to learn more? This article discusses:
Identification
Earwigs look like slender beetles as they are long, flat insects. They are most easily identified by their pinchers at the end of their body or abdomen.
Other identifiable characteristics include:
- Found in every color between red and black
- 1/2 to 3/4 inch long
- Female earwigs’ forceps are straight-sided, while males’ forceps are curved and much larger
- Mouth is located near their straight antennae
- Some have wings and others are wingless
Baby earwigs are similar to adults, yet they are white to olive-green and are wingless.
Earwig Life Cycle and Habits
They develop from egg to adult through subtle metamorphosis with 4 to 5 different stages of life.
During their prime mating time of the spring and autumn, a female can lay 20 to 50 pearl, oval eggs. The female earwigs care for the eggs until they hatch. After that, baby earwigs are left to fend for themselves and mature quickly.
Female earwigs can produce large amounts of offspring in a short time causing major problems in the foundations of the buildings, where they often dwell.
Earwigs are primarily nocturnal and feed at night. They are attracted to lights, sometimes leading them into homes.
During the day they sleep under trash, leaves, cars, newspaper, and anything else they find that covers them from the sun. They scavenge eating any dead insects and plants they stumble upon. They also eat live plants and can damage field crops, becoming a nuisance to farmers and gardeners.
How to get Rid of Earwigs
Just how to get rid of earwigs can be done in many different ways.
Earwigs can help clean up dead plants and debris in your garden, thus if there isn’t many of them, let them live.
If they’re are a ton, they could damage younger, more sensitive plants and end up eating most of your plants in general. With more earwigs present, the less dead plants to eat, leading them to begin eating live plants. Thus removing them is necessary to prevent them from ruining your garden.
Here’s how to get rid of earwigs:
- Prevent them from entering your home by caulking all the cracks, entrances, windows, doorways, and any other entry ways into your home.
- Remove any damp hiding places where earwigs can dwell, like piles of leaves, piles of old newspapers, under pots and stones, and even check around chairs and tables outside.
- Encourage hungry birds by putting bird feeders and bird baths in your garden and on your property. Birds do an excellent job of eating any insects in their sight, including earwigs.
Other methods include making a trap or using a family-safe spray.
To make traps to catch the earwigs inside and outside your home:
- Get a newspaper.
- Soak it in water.
- Roll it up.
- Secure it with a rubber band.
- Return the next day and earwigs in the area will be deep inside the newspaper roll.
- Just throw out the trap or burn it to get rid of the trapped earwigs inside.
Lastly, but certainly not least of all, use EcoSMART Home Pest Control to get rid of earwigs within your home. Spray around doorways and windows to create a barrier protecting your home from their entering.
To protect your property outdoors, use EcoSMART Garden Insect Killer, which will in turn safely and organically protect your garden and home from earwig assault.
16 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By Tom Muller on Oct 22, 2009
Well I’ve found you. About eight years ago I purchased 10 spray cans of your product some flying insect killer and some wasp killer. I am totally delighted with it. It does work on almost all insects that I am aware of. I suspect that it interfers with a specific enzyme system found found only in insects. So it is deadly to earwigs and safe for mammals. The brand I bought promoted by you was Bioganic flying insect killeer made from plant oils. Specifically Hexa-hydroxyl 2.0, Eugenol .50% 2-phenyl propionate 1.25%, and rest inert. I see some of your products differ in composition quite a bit. They manual spray seems like it would be the most effective. Will check out the Wal-Mart store, and if not available will buy direct. Thank You.
By Delia on Oct 23, 2009
We have a major problem with these nasty bugs. I even found one inside my sons juice cup that was drying on the dish rack. I’m going to try the bird feeder suggestion since that will solve a few more bug problems.
By natasha on Oct 23, 2009
I just learned that we have earwig problems. Where there were none everytime I turn around they seem to be there. Mostly in our bathrooms! I hope these tricks work!!
By Dana Weaver on Oct 23, 2009
I have an earwig problem in my raised beds. So far the birds haven’t taken care of them. I’ll have to try the newspaper traps. Thanks for the tip!
By Kent on Oct 24, 2009
We get a lot of these bugs in our house. Our house is well sealed having been built to energy efficiency standards but they still get in. I hope some of these methods will work.
I have heard that many insects can be stopped by a narrow strip of diatomaceous earth around the foundation of your house but I haven’t tried it yet.
By Ginny Hedberg on Oct 26, 2009
We have had trouble with earwigs for quite some time and usually find them in the bathroom and kitchen. I usually find one or two every day so we are very intersted in getting rid of them. We will try the newspaper trap but are interested in a more permanent solution. We would love to test your products. Thank you for the tips!
By Lindsie Paulson on Oct 31, 2009
I have at on of earwigs in my apartment too. I kill probably an average of three per day. Thst is way too many for me. I have tried many other insecticides but nothing seems to work. Every website talks about how to preven them from coming into the house but they are already in and I want them gone. I reallt want to try your product and make these bugs disappear!!!
By aadi on Dec 20, 2009
i have problem with these bugs. will try the newspaper method today.
sprays don’t seem to work. i hope ur product works
By Gardener on Mar 25, 2010
Excellent work on this garden article. It makes for an interesting and easy read.
By Renee on Apr 22, 2010
I live in an apartment where management says there is nothing they can do about earwigs. I have an almost 3 year old that every time he sees one at least 3 times a day he comes screaming and wants me to get rid of it. I don’t much like them either. They are becoming a major problem. I feel like I have to spring clean every day because we are freaked out about them. Would love to try this product to see if it works.
By Paula on Jun 15, 2010
Ugh, there everywhere! I’ve killed about 15 in my room in the last 2 hours and they keep coming. I feel like I have to stay awake with one eye open because I’m so freaked out by them. I’m going to look for this product. I wish they would all disappear.
By Maureen on Jun 25, 2010
I’m glad i found this site… just recently the earwigs have become a problem. Have only had a few in the house- but today one was on the counter!!
I have also found them in my mailbox, and inside the birdfeeder and INSIDE the hose nozzle (TONS). They are disgusting. I have 2 dogs that have alot of allergies, so i’m looking for something safe for them. Hope this works.
By Rebecca Boden on Jun 29, 2010
Ewwww I have woken up to one crawling on me in bed. This Year has been sooo wet that we are finding them everywhere. If we hang clothes out to dry they end up in the clothes even. Rolled up newspaper makes a lot of sense, I will try it. Would love a more direct way of getting rid of them, will look for this product.
By amber adlebush on Jul 8, 2010
MY TOWNHOUSE IS BEING TAKEN OVER BY EARWIGS! I WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO TEST YOUR PRODUCT! I LIVE IN GEEN BAY,WISCONSIN AND RIGHT NOW ITS MID JULY AND THOSE DARN EARWIGS HAVE BEEN PRETTY BAD 4 THE LAST MONTH, I PURCHASED ALL KINDS OF SPRAYS AND NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS UP WATCHING T.V IN THE LIVING ROOM AND MY 7 YEAR OLD SON WAS SLEEPING IN THE CHAIR NEXT TO ME,(ALL THE LIGHTS WERE OFF BUT THE T.V) I DOZED OFF FOR A MINUTE AND OPENED MY EYES AND THE LIGHT FROM THE T.V HIT THE CHAIR MY SON WAS IN AT JUST THE RIGHT ANGLE AND AT 1ST I THOUGHT IT WAS A SPIDER. IT WAS RIGHT BY MY SON’S HEAD CRAWLING!!! I JUMPED UP! FLICKED THE LAMP ON! AND SEEN A HUGE EARWIG WITH LONG CURVY PINCERS! I GRABBED THE CLOSEST THING I COULD FIND (A PIECE OF PAPER) AND GRABBED IT.I PUT IT IN A STYROFOAM CUP AND POURED DAWN DISHSOAP ALL OVER IT! THAT GOT HIM!!! I DIDNT PUT IT DOWN THE DRAIN CUZ THE LAST TIME I DID THAT IT CRAWLED RIGHT BACK UP. PLEASE PLEASE HELP!! I’M SCARED OF THESE UGLY THINGS!!
By ach on Jul 14, 2010
I am in Green bay wisconsin too! I have never seen or had this problem with these earwig bugs before, the last time i seen a abundance of these was years ago in IL at my aunts house, i hate bugs/insects and especially these…i need help and i need it now to get rid of these bugs….HELP!!
By Amy on Jul 18, 2010
Don’t tell me it’s a just myth! I was awoken last night by an earwig pinching me in my ear!That’s one of the Most disturbing,discusting,things I’ve ever expirenced in my 33 yrs. To top that off, the morning before last, my poor 3&1\2 yr. old son woke up crying for me to itch his foot. When we got up, the top of 25% of his foot was fire red so I know he was bitten or stung by one the night before (in my bed)! I am deff. buying this product TODAY & pray it works! We are Not sleeping in our rm. till their Gone! So if anyone tries telling you it’s a myth, it is Not. I think any sizeable insect can! I don’t wish this on anyone,stay safe,stay healthy,stay happy!I’m trying ecosmart,I draw the line & now I want to draw a barrior to Nasty bugs in my house!