Where Do Earwigs Come From? Why These Pests Come Inside Your Home

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. 

Common Things That Attract Earwigs

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. 

Food

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

Shelter

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. 

How Can Earwigs Enter Your Home?

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. 

How to Get Rid of Earwigs

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.