Earwigs. They certainly do not have the darling factor of a Labrador puppy. So, when one of these bugs scurries into view, you might cringe and wonder about a few things. Are they poisonous? Do they really crawl into people’s ears at night? Our guide explains what earwigs are, whether they are a threat and how to keep them away from your garden and home.
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How to Identify an Earwig
Earwigs have multiple species and 20 of them live in the United States alone. Despite this variety, you can identify these insects almost immediately due to their unique and sometimes scary appearance.
Earwigs are long insects that almost look like a cross between an ant, cockroach and wasp. They cannot fly and run wherever they need to go. Earwigs have six legs and can grow to be an inch (2.5 cm) in length.
But perhaps their most defining feature is the pair of frightening-looking pinchers near the tail section. Despite that the pinchers give earwigs a scorpion flavor, things are not as dangerous as they might appear!
The Purpose of an Earwig’s Pinchers
Unlike scorpions, an earwig’s “tail” is not packing a deadly venom. The insects use their pinchers to catch food, courtship during mating and also to battle other males. Earwigs of both genders also use their pinchers to fend off other earwigs during altercations with their own kind.
Do Earwigs Crawl Into People’s Ears?
Earwigs got their name from an old wives’ tale. The latter told a horrifying story! While you sleep, an earwig will seek out your face and crawl into your ear. Why? Because the human ear is apparently the perfect nursery for their eggs. So, is this true? Not in the slightest. In reality, earwigs are harmless insects with an unfortunate reputation. They never have and never will view your ear canal as prime real estate!
Most people are surprised to learn that earwigs are beneficial insects. They eat the eggs and larvae of other bugs which reduces the number of plant-damaging insects in the garden. They are particularly useful if you are struggling with aphids, slugs and caterpillars.
How to Get Rid of Earwigs
These insects might be harmless to humans and beneficial to a degree. But that does not mean that you want tons of them taking over your home and garden. They can, in large numbers, cause damage as well. They can do their worst damage in the garden as they also love the taste of certain plants and flowers. Earwigs can ruin foliage overnight.
Our guide is packed with the most effective and easy tips that you can do today in order to show these goobers the door. Let’s dive in!
Remove Dead Insects
If you are battling other bugs like flies or roaches, the chances are that you will notice a couple of dead ones lying around the home, especially if you put out poisoned bait traps for them. Once you notice them, get rid of the remains as soon as possible. Dead insects are a hot favorite on the earwig’s menu.
Get Rid of Rocky Debris
Earwigs love to hide under rocks, bricks and other discarded building materials. If your earwig problem is in the garden, then make sure that you remove any large rocks, pebble piles and, if the problem is particularly severe, even the gravel chips that adorn your flower beds.
A word of caution, though. Once you start to make things uncomfortable for them outdoors, some earwigs might make a beeline for your home. This brings us to the next suggestion.
Seal Your Home
Yes, this is a massive task. After all, sealing a home means going over every window, door, cracked panel, the foundation and more. But there is a silver lining to sealing your home against earwigs. It will also keep out other pests like cockroaches, flies, rats and mice.
Keep The Garden Clean
Earwigs also love to munch on dry leaves and other types of organic materials. If you have plants that shed leaves, fruit or even twigs, then grab that rake and clean up all the debris. Don’t let it sit in a pile, either! The earwigs will simply treat the pile as a new restaurant. Make sure that you keep this up and eventually, the insects will move on to other places where food is more plentiful.
Secure Your Trash
Make sure that they do not move into your refuge bins, though! Earwigs have no trouble finding their way into a trash bag or bins – and they love all the edible scraps we throw away on a daily basis. The best way is to stop placing a plastic trash bag outside the house or inside of a bin with cracks or a wobbly lid that cannot seal the interior off.
Check Your Plumbing
Earwigs are attracted to a certain type of place. Their view of heaven is a corner that is dark and moist. This makes several spots in the home attractive to them but moreover, earwigs will infest places where the plumbing leaks. Check all the pipes for damage or droplets and focus particularly on plumbing that runs through cold and dark areas of the home.
Do not forget your outdoors plumbing! Visit all outdoor pipes, taps and drains to look for signs of leakage or earwigs.
Clear the Gutters
As we mentioned earlier, earwigs love organic matter. Unfortunately, gutters are notorious for collecting a large amount of leaves right under our noses. There is a reason why the gutter is a problem here. When something near the house becomes a food source – or a shelter like a pile of logs – then earwigs are going to get into your home. Make sure that your gutters are regularly cleaned, especially during the fall when most trees drop their leaves.
Keep the Counters and Floors Food-Free
While earwigs prefer other insects and plant matter, they can be opportunistic feeders. These insects might be attracted to crumbs, fruit and leftovers found in the home. A good wipe around the kitchen and floor vacuuming will remove another possible food source for them.
Trim or Thin Your Plants
Reducing your shrubs, bushes, trees and flowers comes with two benefits. First, with fewer branches to shed leaves, there will be less organic matter for you to clean up in subsequent months. Secondly, well-spaced flowers and thinned bushes also provide less shelter for earwigs. They do not appreciate open, airy and sunny spots!
Use an Organic Pesticide
Is your earwig problem in the garden? Then an organic, species-specific pesticide is a must. You don’t want a toxic substance in your yard where your children and pets play. Also, a general pesticide will also kill beneficial and beautiful insects like butterflies and bees. There are many products available but always read the label to see whether it’s non-toxic for humans and safe for other critters.
Create Earwig Traps
Some earwig traps are easy to make. All you need is some newspaper and oats. Crumple a sheet of newspaper, dampen it and sprinkle oats between the creases. Place the balls in places where the earwigs frequent like cupboards and flowerbeds. You can catch a lot of the insects in this manner and simply replace the balls every morning.
Apply Diatomaceous Earth
Made from fossilized algae, diatomaceous earth is a fantastic product for those who prefer non-toxic and natural options. It appears as a powder but the bits and pieces are sharp enough to scrape the underside of earwigs and cockroaches alike. Eventually, this damage to their bodies leads to death. While fatal to insects, diatomaceous earth is harmless to pets, children and plants.
FAQ
Q: How long do earwigs live?
Males and females mate in the fall and the eggs are laid during winter or early spring. Within seven days, the eggs hatch. The babies look identical to adults and will live for about a year.
Q: Do earwigs carry diseases?
When earwigs scurry over food or through the kitchen, you might be worried about insect-bourne diseases. The good news is that earwigs do not carry any diseases. Even if they did, none would be transmissible to humans as these insects do not bite people.
Q: What other pests do earwigs eat?
Earwigs can be a bother but as a form of pest control themselves, they are hugely beneficial. Earwigs can reduce populations of other harmful creatures including aphids, cockroaches, army worms, maggots, and slugs.
Q: What are the signs of an earwig infestation in my garden?
You will notice several signs when earwigs move into the garden en masse. The most common signs include damaged leaves (holes and jagged, missing pieces), overnight damage to plants and the tell-tale droppings of earwigs (they resemble tiny, black pellets). You can also check for these insects under the containers of damaged plants.
Q: Will my chickens and ducks eat earwigs in my garden?
Yes, both chickens and ducks will readily eat several garden pests including earwigs. However, bear in mind that chickens can also cause damage to gardens with their constant scratching and pecking. Ducks are less likely to damage the plants in your yard.
Q: What is the difference between a male and a female earwig?
Both genders look the same except for one feature. The fearsome-looking pinchers on a female are more straight while a male’s is more curved. Males also use their pinchers to fight each other.