I. General Facts about Earwigs

Earwigs (Forficula auricularia and Euborellia annulipes), are brown or black insects with a distinctive tail, similar to that of the silverfish, but with two “prongs” pointing inward rather than three prongs splayed outward.

They are one half to one inch long, have a set of mean-looking pincers sticking off their back end, and antennae (the said prongs) about half as long as their bodies. Active mainly at night, earwigs have wings but are poor fliers, and are primarily outdoor insects. Earwigs occasionally use their pincers to nip, but they are not poisonous.

They feed on other insects and on living and dead plant material. These insects, when present in large numbers, can do significant damage to plants, and Marigolds are a favorite target.

II. Earwigs as Pests

All in all, earwigs haven’t been a huge problem for people. They can be a serious nuisance, though, especially when they find their way indoors.

Because of their rather nasty vermin look, their presence inside the house actually frightens some people. They rarely come inside in great numbers, though, and they do not breed indoors.

In any case, getting rid of earwigs is very easy. Here are some tips on the prevention and control of an indoor earwig infestation.

III. Basic Earwig Control

Drying an area out will reduce earwig numbers. Use sprays or sprinkle granular insecticide bait on the ground beneath plants that earwigs are damaging. You can purchase earwig bait at garden stores and hardware stores.

* Gravel: Earwigs are attracted to moist areas like the foundation around your house. If you want to get rid of earwigs, it is suggested that you clean and groom the areas immediately around the foundation of your home. Gravel and white stones can be layered around the home to help drainage around the sides, limiting the attraction of earwigs.

* Windows: These insects can gain entrance to your home through ground level windows. To get rid of earwigs, you’ll want to make sure that screens on your windows are properly fixed and fitted to the window frame. If you find that earwigs are getting in through cracks between the window and the window frame, weather stripping easily solves the problem.

* Doors: Earwigs will enter your home through loose or drafty doors. If you’re going to get rid of earwigs, you’ll want to seal the more obvious entrances to your home—the doors. Doors and door frames are the most common access for pests like earwigs. Be sure to examine each doorway into your home and address cracks and holes with weather stripping, caulk, or putty.

* Vacuuming: Large populations of earwigs can be controlled with a vacuum. If you find a large colony of earwigs in a concentrated area, the most effective way to get rid of them is to vacuum them up. Be sure to have the vacuum ready before disturbing their resting place, because as soon as you get in there, they will scatter. Make sure to empty the vacuum or the vacuum bag in a sealed container and dispose of it immediately. Also, vacuum up any white, egg-like objects in the area.

IV. Natural Earwig Control

The best way to reduce earwig populations is to locate and treat those areas outdoors where earwigs hide during the day. These include rotting tree stumps, cracks in tree trunks, beneath pottery and stones, behind loose building boards, and in organic mulch at the base of shrubs and other plants, especially in shady areas.

Once you find them, treat the earwigs with an insecticide. It is best if a rather large volume of spray is used to soak mulch areas or other hot spots.

* Traps: For a non-chemical control, traps can be used. One popular trap is rolled up newspaper placed on the ground. Earwigs crawl into the newspaper rolls to hide during the day. Collect the rolls each evening and shake the earwigs into a pail of soapy water.

* Sodium: Sodium lights are a somewhat unknown natural pest control tactic. A lot of insects are more attracted to lights that emit a “bluer” wavelength. Sodium lights emit less blue wave light.

Earwigs, being attracted to lights, are less attracted to a sodium light, which means fewer earwigs will find their way into a home that uses sodium lights for outdoor lighting purposes.

* Boric Acid: Earwigs hate boric acid powder. Borax is a natural insecticide that is fairly harmless to human beings and pets. Other names for this colorless powder are Orthoboric acid, Boracic acid, or Sassolite (its mineral form). Dusting hard-to-reach places in your home with it is the most common method for boric acid earwig control.

To really get rid of earwigs that have made it into your home despite proper sealing and landscaping techniques, spreading a residual insecticide like boric acid near baseboards, cracks, and hard to reach places is recommended. Boric acid is a natural insecticide, and works only if the earwig is forced to travel through the powder.

V. Earwig Bites

An earwig bite, despite what some people claim, is quite harmless because earwigs are not poisonous. Though the earwig’s jaws (forceps) are quite strong and the pinch can be a bit painful, there is no reason to worry about an earwig bite.

There are, however, alleged worst-case scenarios where a bite victim (particularly those with various allergies) suffers severe itching on the bite area, a stinging sensation, a hot-and-red swollen bump to about 1-3 inches in diameter that, when left untreated, may become a huge liquid-filled blister (cellulitus, an infection of the tissue). If this happens to you, consult your doctor immediately; treatment may vary from topical medicines like hydrogen peroxide to the outright use of antibiotics.

VI. Killing Earwigs

There are a lot of insecticides and pesticides on the market that will kill earwigs. Sprays are generally not as effective as granule and residual earwig treatments. For basic earwig control and even treatment of large earwig infestations, both an indoor and outdoor earwig control regiment should be instituted.

Boric acid powder, insecticide dusts, and other earwig powders and dusts containing pyrethrins are effective earwig control agents in the home. Outside of the home, earwig control agents should be spread 6-10 feet from the foundation outwards, all the way around your home.

You can use insecticides to help control earwigs, but only use them after you have plugged the holes and cracks. There are many products labeled as insect control for in and around homes. Select and use the product carefully and make sure the one you select is labeled for the intended purpose and location.

Read and follow all pesticide label directions carefully. The pesticide label often lists a waiting period for edible crops; this tells you how many days to wait after the last application before you can safely eat your vegetables.

* Insecticide Application: Typically, you apply insecticides for earwigs outdoors to keep the earwigs from getting inside. Spray liquid residual products along door stoops and cracks in the foundation. To establish a chemical barrier around your house, you can apply granular insecticides to the soil at the base of your foundation. If you apply them properly, insecticide treatments can provide temporary control, but seldom give long-term control.

Those earwigs that do get indoors are best controlled by hand, the same way you control houseflies and most other indoor insects. Aerosol spray insecticides are available, but choose them carefully. Not all insect sprays are for indoor use, and those that aren’t may stain tile, upholstery or woodwork.

This type of earwig control is made more effective if sprayed lightly with water to help the poison seep into the ground (2-3 inches) where earwigs generally lay their eggs.