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Earwigs are outdoor insects that can occasionally migrate indoors. They prefer to feed on soft-bellied insects, but will also eat vegetation. They are not harmful to humans, even though their long pincers may make them look fierce. If you are overrun with these pesky creatures, browse through the information on this page to learn how to get rid of earwigs.
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Tips on Getting Rid of Earwigs
- Secure your home to keep earwigs from invading
- Make sure the area around your foundation is dry
- Seal up cracks around doors and fix broken window screens
- Spread boric acid around baseboards and other entryways
- Try to attract birds to your home; birds feed on earwigs
- Be especially careful when using poisons, including insecticides—some may be harmful to humans and pets
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Before you kill that earwig in your garden, listen to what "Bill" has to say. In the video, he explains that the ugly and sometimes smelly earwig is actually beneficial to your lawn or garden. A great tip is given on how to get rid of earwigs and be sure to listen to his final thought about the misunderstood insect.
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Introduction
- Earwigs can be useful in the garden, where they consume the eggs of snails and slugs. If the ecosystem is out of balance, however, with too many earwigs competing for too little food, they will also devour tender young plants, or migrate indoors looking to feast on spiders or cockroaches.
Step 2: Control Earwigs Outdoors
- There are natural methods you can use to reduce an out of control earwig population in your garden.
- Earwigs tend to seek out dark, damp places to sleep; you can take advantage of this to eliminate colonies that are out of control.
- Search out and remove damp, dark hiding places such as leaf debris, wood piles, upturned pots and stepping stones.
- Provide your own hiding places by dampening newspaper, rolling it up, and placing them outside each afternoon. Return in the morning and dispose of them in a tightly closed paper bag.
- As your earwig population comes under control, you'll find fewer in the newspapers each morning.
- Make your yard bird-friendly by setting out feeders and nesting materials. Birds will consume earwigs.
- Place saucers containing a 1/2 inch of vegetable oil around the garden. Earwigs will climb in and die.
Step 1: Prevent Earwigs from Getting Inside
- The best way to eliminate earwigs inside your house is to prevent them from getting inside in the first place.
- Earwigs gravitate to moist areas, so make sure the area around your foundation is well drained.
- Repair any holes in window screens and make sure that the screens fit tightly.
- Seal any cracks around doors and door frames.
- Spread boric acid along baseboards and other potential entryways.
Step 3: Use Poisons Carefully
- Boric acid powder, insecticide dusts, and other earwig powders and dusts containing pyrethrins can be used to kill earwigs both indoors and outdoors. Use them carefully, as some may be toxic to humans, pets and most beneficial insects. Sprays are usually not as effective as residual granules and dusts.
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