How to Identify and Get Rid of Earwigs

Protect your home or business from earwigs by learning techniques for identification and control.

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EARWIGS TREATMENT

How do I get rid of earwigs?

What You Can Do

Start by inspecting the outside of the house. Remove as many earwig hiding places as possible. Stack firewood on a rack and move it away from the house. Rake mulch and dead leaves away from the foundation—try to make a 12" clear zone. It is sometimes necessary to have trees trimmed to allow more sunshine on the yard.

Make sure exterior doors close tightly and replace any missing weather stripping.

Indoors, eliminate any excess moisture and dampness in the home.

After eliminating these conditions that they find attractive, call your local Orkin branch office. A highly trained Orkin Pro will come to your home, conduct a thorough inspection and, after assessing the situation, recommend a scientifically proven customized treatment plan that will best fit your needs.

How Orkin Helps Get Rid Of Earwigs

There are over 20 different earwig species that can be found in the United States. These pests got their names due to the myth of earwigs crawling into people's ears while they are sleeping and laying eggs in the brain. Thankfully this is not true, although there have been cases of earwigs being found in the ear.

How do you get rid of earwigs? Start by making sure there aren't piles of wood, leaves, and rocks around the home to help keep these pincher bugs away. Earwigs like to stay around mulch and vegetation so it's important to keep the area around your home clean. Excess moisture, in shady or damp areas, can also attract earwigs.

Orkin Pros are trained to help get rid of earwigs and similar pests that invade homes. Since every yard or home is unique, the Orkin Pro will design an earwig treatment program for your situation.

Keeping pests out of your home is an ongoing process, not a one-time treatment. Orkin’s exclusive Points of Service process is a continuing cycle of five critical steps.

  • We Investigate: We’ll inspect your home from top to bottom, inside and out, for current or potential earwig infestations.

  • We Protect: We’ll treat the perimeter of your structure with the appropriate materials, remove all earwig habitats and use the safest methods available.

  • We Fortify: We’ll do everything we can to keep earwigs out--seal, caulk, plug, and secure gaps and cracks.

  • We Keep Watch: We’ll treat the interior of your home and install pest monitors in critical areas such as kitchens, baths, utility rooms, and garages.

  • We Report: We’ll always provide a detailed report of services rendered and recommendations to help keep your home free of earwigs and other pests.

  • We Follow Up: We’ll stay in touch between our regularly scheduled visits and respond to any immediate needs.

Orkin can provide the right solution to keep earwigs, and other pests, in their place...out of your home or business. For more information on how to get rid of earwigs, call your local Orkin branch today.

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 FAQs

  • There are more than twenty species of earwigs in the United States. Some species produce a foul smelling liquid that they use for defense. Earwigs also produce a pheromone (scent). Scientists believe that this pheromone is the reason that earwigs cluster together in large numbers.

    There is a superstition that earwigs burrow into the ears of people while they sleep. This is a myth and without any scientific basis. Earwigs frighten many people because of the pincers on the back of their abdomens. Earwigs use these pincers for defense and for sparing with rival earwigs.

  • The most important part of controlling earwigs is eliminating their hiding places. If the earwig harborages are not addressed, insecticide application will probably not control earwigs very well. There are a variety of things that can be done.

    Landscaping

    • Clean Up - Move landscape timbers, logs, decorative stones, and firewood piles away from the foundation.

    • Eliminate Moist Soil - Create a zone next to the foundation that is free of mulch, dead leaves, and other organic material. The “dry zone” should be 6” to 12” wide so that earwigs will avoid it.

    • Trim Overhanging Branches - Trim trees and shrubs that cause damp, shady areas near the house.

    Around the Home

    • Proper Drainage is Key - Examine gutters and downspouts to make sure they drain away from the foundation. Set irrigation systems so that they water in the morning and allow the landscape to dry during the day.

    • Switch Up Exterior Lighting - Adjust outdoor lights to shine from the yard onto the house – insects will be attracted away from the house. If moving outside light fixtures is not practical, consider changing light bulbs to yellow bulbs since white lights are more attractive to insects.

    • Secure Possible Entry Points - Repair screens on crawl space vents and make sure the vents are not blocked.

    • Dry Out Moisture-Prone Areas - A dehumidifier might help in a damp basement.

    Call for Professional Assistance With Earwig Removal

    The best way to prevent earwigs is to utilize Integrated Pest Management, or IPM. IPM is a holistic approach to pest control. The basic steps of IPM include Inspection, Identification and Control.

    Earwigs can infest many different areas in a home. Because of that, it may be necessary to use several insecticide products to control them effectively. A pest control professional will have the products and equipment to control earwigs effectively.

  • Yes, earwigs are known to pinch humans when they feel threatened but will rarely do so on purpose. Their pincers may look scary but are not very strong and will rarely break the skin. Earwigs will rarely attack humans unless they have to defend themselves.

  • Earwigs move into homes to find food or because of a change in weather. They usually wind up indoors while seeking shelter or just happen to wander inside through open doors. Earwigs prefer cool, damp areas and may enter homes during extended dry periods.

    Homeowners often find them in areas where there is water – kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries. Earwigs can also find their way into bedrooms and family rooms. They turn up in almost every part of the house, but infestations are rare.Some species, like carpenter and fire ants, cause additional problems. A carpenter ant infestation can do costly damage by chewing tunnels through wood beams. Fire ant stings that involve envenomation can cause pain and more serious symptoms that often result in allergic reactions to some people who are hyper-sensitive to ant stings.

  • Earwigs are not poisonous or venomous. Their pinchers or bite are not toxic to humans and are mostly harmless. They usually use their pinchers to defend against other insects; their pinchers are also used to help attract another earwig mate.

Behavior, Diet & Habits

Understanding Earwigs

What do earwigs look like?

Earwigs have elongated flat bodies that are carrot-shaped and usually brown, black, and reddish in color. They have antennae, and 6 legs and are most recognized for the pinchers at the bottom of their abdomen.

  • Forceps: Earwigs are odd-looking insects that have pinchers or forceps protruding from the abdomen, giving them the nickname "pincher bugs". These are somewhat intimidating looking but they are not poisonous, and they do not spread disease. Earwig will usually only pinch humans if they feel threatened.

  • Size: Depending on the species, adults range in size from 5-25 mm.

  • Wings: Some adults may be winged or wingless. Those that do have wings usually have two pairs of wings. Dermaptera means “skin wing” due to the leathery appearance of the wings. The hind wings typically fold under the front wings. Some earwigs can fly in short bursts.

Where do earwigs live?

As with any other type of insect with multiple species, biology and habits vary. Most active at night, earwigs hide during the day in damp areas, primarily under rocks or mulch in flowerbeds. Most types of earwigs generally prefer wet areas that are cooler and undisturbed. Earwigs can be a serious garden pest if conditions are right. If there is adequate ground cover, wet soil, and food, the earwigs will do well. They are known to create small burrows during the winter.

What do earwigs eat?

Earwigs typically feed on live sprouts or decaying vegetation and, in rare cases, some species are predators.

Are earwigs fast?

Earwigs are relatively fast moving. They run away quickly when the ground litter is moved, uncovering them.

Are earwigs nocturnal?

Earwigs are active at night. During the day they hide in cracks in damp areas. They live under rocks and logs and in mulch in flowerbeds. Earwigs eat plants and insects.

Are earwigs attracted to light?

Earwigs are attracted to lights. They can become a nuisance on porches and patios on summer evenings. In the morning they will be gathered under things like cushions that were left outside overnight.

What are the signs of earwigs?

Homeowners often find earwigs in areas where there is water – kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries. Earwigs can also find their way into bedrooms and family rooms. They turn up in almost every part of the house, but earwig infestations are rare.

Do earwigs lay eggs?

Female earwigs typically lay between 30 and 50 eggs in burrows during the spring but actual numbers depend on species. Unlike other insects, a female earwig will tend to her eggs until they hatch. After hatching, the nymphs undergo four to five molts until they become adults. Immature earwigs (nymphs) resemble the adults except they do not have wings.