Earwigs are small, nocturnal insects known for their intimidating pincers and unusual behavior. While their appearance might evoke unease, these insects play a crucial role in nature as decomposers and natural pest controllers. However, when they enter homes, they become an unwelcome nuisance.
This guide explains where earwigs come from, their natural habitat, what attracts them indoors, and how you can prevent an infestation.
Earwigs are nocturnal insects that stay hidden during the day in dark, damp areas like mulch, leaf litter, and under rocks. Their omnivorous diet includes decaying plant matter, fruits, vegetables, insects, and fungi.
Visit our Species, Control, and DIY Guide sections for additional resources on earwigs and ways to tackle an earwig infestation.
By following these prevention techniques, you can lower the chances of an earwig infestation in your home and garden. If earwig infestations persist, consider contacting a professional pest control. Our team can provide a customized approach to protect your home effectively.
What are Earwigs?
Earwigs belong to the order Dermaptera and are known for their elongated, flat bodies and iconic pincers, also called cerci, located at the end of their abdomens. These pincers, while intimidating, are primarily used for self-defense, mating rituals, and capturing prey. Here are the key features that make earwigs easily identifiable:Physical Characteristics of Earwigs
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Shape: Elongated, flat, and slightly segmented body that allows them to squeeze into tight crevices. -
Size: Typically ranges from 0.5 to 1 inch in length.
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Color: Reddish-brown to black, often with a shiny, smooth exoskeleton.
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Wings: While they have wings, earwigs rarely fly and instead rely on crawling and climbing.
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Pincers (Cerci): Males have curved pincers, while females have straighter ones, which they use for defense, hunting, and mating displays.
Where Do Earwigs Come From?
Earwigs prefer living in outdoor environments but often make their way indoors when seeking shelter, moisture, and food. They are experts at finding small entry points, such as cracks in foundations and walls, particularly around basement windows. Gaps around door frames, window sills, and weather stripping also serve as easy access points for earwigs to slip inside. Other than that, utility pipes, dryer vents, and HVAC system openings provide pathways for them to enter homes. Earwigs are also known to climb exterior walls and access basements or attics through small cracks or crevices. They can sneak into even the tiniest openings, which makes it essential to seal entry points and maintain proper home maintenance to prevent infestations.
Where Are Eariwgs Commonly Found?
Earwigs are found worldwide, especially in temperate regions where moisture, shelter, and food are plentiful. Outdoors they thrive under rocks, logs, mulch, and leaf litter, where damp, shaded areas provide ideal living conditions. Gardens, compost heaps, and moist soil offer shelter and food sources, while burrows and crevices serve as safe spots for egg-laying and rearing young. Indoors, earwigs seek out damp, dark spaces like basements, bathrooms, and kitchens. They hide in wall voids, crawlspaces, and gaps around windows or doors. Storage areas with cardboard boxes, wet towels, or stored fabrics also attract earwigs due to their moisture and shelter, making earwigs well-suited to outdoor and indoor environments.Why Do Earwigs Enter Homes?
Earwigs enter homes when outdoor conditions become unfavorable, seeking shelter, moisture, and food. Weather changes like heavy rain, flooding, or drought drive them indoors as they search for more stable environments. Seasonal shifts, especially the drop in temperatures during fall, also prompt earwigs to migrate indoors to escape the cold. Once inside, earwigs are drawn to areas with moisture, light, and food. Damp conditions caused by leaking pipes, poor ventilation, and condensation provide ideal hiding spots. While nocturnal, earwigs may also be attracted to artificial light at night. Food sources like fallen crumbs, pet food, and even indoor plants can lure them further into living spaces.
Earwig Lifecycle
The lifecycle of an earwig moves through three key stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Unlike most insects, female earwigs provide maternal care, guarding and cleaning their eggs to increase survival rates. This unique behavior plays a vital role in the development and growth of their young. Eggs Female earwigs lay 20 to 50 eggs in underground burrows during spring or fall. The mother stays with the eggs, protecting them from predators and cleaning them to prevent fungal growth, ensuring a higher chance of survival. Nymphs After hatching, earwig nymphs resemble miniature adults but lack wings and have smaller pincers. They remain in the burrow, often under the mother’s protection, until they are strong enough to survive on their own. Molting Nymphs go through multiple molts, shedding their exoskeletons as they grow. With each molt they come closer to their adult form, with fully developed pincers and wings. This process takes a few months, depending on environmental factors like humidity and temperature. Adulthood Adult earwigs develop wings, stronger pincers, and reproductive abilities. They live for a few months to a year, depending on predators and environmental conditions. Adults seek moisture, shelter, and food, often leading them to homes and gardens during cooler weather or after heavy rain.How to Prevent Earwig Infestation?
Preventing earwig infestations involves reducing moisture, sealing entry points, and eliminating hiding spots. Here are effective ways to keep earwigs out of your home and garden:Tips to Prevent Earwig Infestations
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Keep mulch, leaf piles, and decaying wood away from the home’s foundation.
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Store firewood at least 20 feet from the house and keep it elevated.
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Trim shrubs and plants near the home to reduce potential hiding spots.
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Fill openings and gaps around windows, doors, and foundations.
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Fix leaks, improve ventilation, and use dehumidifiers in damp areas like basements.
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Do not store cardboard boxes directly on the floor in basements or crawlspaces.
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Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around entry points and garden areas to dehydrate and kill earwigs.
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Spray peppermint, eucalyptus, or citronella oil mixed with water around entry points to repel earwigs.
Myths and Facts about Earwigs
Several myths surround earwigs, contributing to misunderstandings about their behavior and impact. Below, we’ll clarify some of these common misconceptions with the facts.| Myth | Fact |
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| Earwigs crawl into ears and burrow into brains. | This is a myth; earwigs do not seek out human ears and are not interested in entering them. |
| Earwigs are dangerous and can bite humans. | Earwigs do not harm humans and use their pincers for defense and capturing prey. |
| Earwigs only eat plants and cause garden damage. | Earwigs are omnivores and consume pest insects, playing a beneficial role in gardens. |
| All earwigs can fly. | While some earwigs have wings, they are not strong fliers and typically prefer to crawl. |
| Earwigs are only found in homes. | Earwigs are found worldwide in various habitats, including gardens, forests, and fields. |
