Why earwigs are checking in—and how to make them check out
Where earwigs come from depends on your home's food and shelter sources, as these pests seek houseplants, mold, mildew, and damp hiding spots indoors.
Expect to pay $100 to $500 for pest control services, with average costs around $175 depending on infestation severity and treatment frequency needed.
Remove wet piles of leaves, mulch, and firewood near your home's foundation, windows, and doors to eliminate earwig shelter and keep them outside where they belong.
Hiring a local exterminating professional provides reliable help identifying unsealed entry points and implementing treatment plans when prevention methods don't eliminate your earwig problem.
Although they may look like tiny villains (with an unwarranted reputation to match), earwigs are less harmful than other bugs that make their way indoors. In most cases, earwigs are seeking food and shelter when the outside temperatures increase, which is what lures them inside.
If you’re wondering where all the earwigs are coming from, we explore what can be enticing them and how to give them the boot.
Without food and shelter, earwigs can’t survive. Which is why easy access to this duo can entice them to come from their natural habitat—outdoors—and into your cozy space. Here are the most common attractors of these pesky pincer-wielding insects.
Although they don’t primarily feast on crumbs or other food scraps like other bugs, earwigs can find food sources inside, especially if you have a plethora of plants.
Common “food” they’ll find indoors include:
Mold or mildew
Houseplants
Other insects
Pet food
Decaying organic matter
If desperate, crumbs or food scraps
Earwigs are nocturnal lawn pests, but when daylight strikes, they seek out cold, damp places that tend to go undisturbed. This is where your home comes in. Leaky pipes or unseen pooling water can easily attract earwigs, as can piles of wet mulch, leaves, or firewood.
Make sure any excess piles near your home, especially around windows, doors, and your foundation, are removed and any indoor plumbing issues are addressed to keep earwigs from setting up shop inside.
Earwigs can slip into your home through surprisingly small and common openings. Here’s how they’re likely getting inside:
Through cracks and gaps in window sills, walls, and door frames
Under doors with worn or missing weather stripping
In damp items brought indoors, such as potted plants, firewood, or newspapers
Through open doors and windows
In dryer or attic vents and bathroom exhausts
Through gaps around piping and cables
Check these areas regularly to make sure the entry points are sealed. That way, earwigs can seek shelter outside where they belong.
The best way to get rid of earwigs is to eliminate their source of food and shelter. Cleaning your kitchen regularly by wiping down surfaces and vacuuming up crumbs can ensure no scraps get swiped by these brown bugs. It also helps to check underneath your sinks for leaky pipes or pooling water that can attract earwigs inside.
If prevention methods don’t help, it’s time to call your local exterminator to inspect the property and implement a treatment plan. They can also help identify unsealed cracks or entry points that give earwigs easy access inside.
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