How to Get Rid of Earwigs: Understanding and Eliminating These Misunderstood Garden Visitors

I'll never forget the first time I encountered an earwig. I was maybe eight years old, helping my grandmother harvest tomatoes in her backyard garden in Ohio. As I reached for a particularly plump beefsteak, something dark scurried out from beneath the leaves—a creature with what looked like medieval torture devices attached to its rear end. My grandmother, unfazed, simply brushed it aside and said, "Oh, that's just a pincher bug. They won't hurt you, but they sure do love my dahlias."

That childhood memory stuck with me, and years later, as someone who's dealt with countless pest situations in various homes and gardens, I've developed a peculiar respect for these often-maligned insects. Yes, earwigs can be a nuisance. No, they won't actually crawl into your ears while you sleep (that's an old wives' tale that refuses to die). But understanding them—really understanding them—is the key to managing their presence effectively.

The Earwig Reality Check

Let me dispense with the mythology right away. Despite their fearsome appearance and that unfortunate common name, earwigs are relatively harmless creatures. Those pincers? They're called cerci, and while they can give you a tiny pinch if you handle the insect roughly, they're primarily used for mating displays and capturing prey. The European earwig, which is the species most of us encounter in North America, is actually an accidental import that arrived sometime in the early 1900s.

What strikes me most about earwigs is their fascinating maternal behavior. Unlike most insects, female earwigs actually care for their young. They'll guard their eggs through winter, clean them to prevent fungal growth, and even feed their babies after they hatch. It's touching, really, if you can get past the whole creepy-crawly factor.

But I get it. When you flip on the bathroom light at 2 AM and see one scuttling across the floor, maternal instincts are probably the last thing on your mind. Or when you find them munching through your prize-winning petunias, sympathy tends to evaporate pretty quickly.

Why Your Home Becomes Earwig Central

Here's something most pest control companies won't tell you: earwigs don't actually want to be in your house. They're moisture-seeking creatures that thrive in damp, dark environments. When they show up indoors, it's usually because conditions outside have become inhospitable—too dry, too wet, or too cold.

I learned this lesson the hard way during a particularly dry summer in 2018. My neighbor and I were both battling earwig invasions, spraying everything in sight with various pesticides. Nothing worked. Then one evening, while watering my parched garden, I noticed something: the earwigs were congregating around the base of my rain barrel, desperately seeking moisture. That's when it clicked. We weren't dealing with an invasion; we were dealing with refugees.

The most common entry points I've observed over the years include:

The gap beneath exterior doors (especially if the weather stripping is worn), cracks in foundation walls, spaces around ground-level windows, and—this one surprises people—through potted plants brought indoors for the winter. I once helped a friend who couldn't figure out why her sunroom was suddenly earwig city every October. Turns out, she was essentially operating an earwig shuttle service with her collection of outdoor plants.

The Art of Earwig Eviction

Now, let's talk strategy. And I mean real strategy, not just "spray and pray" tactics that leave you with a chemical-scented home and resilient earwigs that seem to thumb their cerci at your efforts.

First, understand that earwigs are nocturnal. During the day, they hide in tight, moist spaces. This behavior is actually your secret weapon. One of the most effective methods I've discovered involves nothing more than slightly damp newspaper. Roll it up loosely, secure it with a rubber band, and leave it outside near problem areas overnight. In the morning, you'll likely find it full of earwigs seeking shelter. Simply dispose of the newspaper (I usually dunk it in a bucket of soapy water first) and repeat.

For indoor invasions, I've found that addressing moisture issues solves 90% of the problem. Fix leaky pipes, use a dehumidifier in damp basements, and ensure proper ventilation in bathrooms. It's less exciting than chemical warfare, but infinitely more effective.

Here's a trick I picked up from an old-timer in Vermont: diatomaceous earth. But not just any application—you need to think like an earwig. They travel along baseboards and walls, so that's where you focus. Create a thin barrier of food-grade diatomaceous earth along these highways. It's like setting up a toll booth that charges in exoskeleton integrity.

The Garden Battleground

Outdoor earwig management requires a different philosophy entirely. In the garden, earwigs occupy a strange middle ground—they're both pest and predator. Yes, they'll nibble on your hostas and dahlias (my grandmother was right about that), but they also devour aphids and other soft-bodied pests.

The key is balance. I've learned to tolerate a certain earwig presence because they're actually beneficial in moderation. But when populations explode—usually during wet springs followed by dry summers—intervention becomes necessary.

Oil traps work remarkably well in gardens. Take a shallow container (tuna cans are perfect), bury it so the rim is at ground level, and fill it with vegetable oil with a drop of soy sauce. The soy sauce acts as an attractant, and the oil prevents escape. It's morbid but effective. I usually set these near particularly vulnerable plants.

Another approach involves creating "trap crops" or sacrificial plants. I've noticed earwigs have definite preferences. They adore marigolds, for instance. By planting a border of marigolds around more valuable plants, you can sometimes redirect their attention. It doesn't always work perfectly, but it's part of an integrated approach that beats chemical dependence.

The Chemical Question

I'm not categorically against pesticides, but I've become increasingly skeptical of their use for earwig control. The problem isn't just environmental (though that's certainly a concern); it's that broad-spectrum insecticides often create more problems than they solve. Kill off the earwigs' natural predators, and you might find yourself with an even worse infestation down the line.

If you must use chemicals, targeted applications of spinosad or pyrethrin-based products can be effective. But timing is everything. Evening applications work best since earwigs are most active at night. And please, for the love of beneficial insects everywhere, avoid spraying flowering plants during the day when pollinators are active.

Prevention: The Long Game

After years of dealing with various infestations, I've become a firm believer in prevention over cure. With earwigs, this means thinking holistically about your property.

Start with landscaping. Those beautiful river rocks against your foundation? They're essentially earwig condominiums. Wood mulch piled high against your siding? That's the earwig equivalent of luxury housing with amenities. I've learned to maintain a dry barrier of at least 6-12 inches between any organic material and structures.

Outdoor lighting plays a surprising role too. Earwigs, like many insects, are attracted to lights. Switching to yellow "bug lights" or motion-activated lighting can significantly reduce the number of insects congregating near entry points. It's a small change that makes a big difference.

Living with the Inevitable

Here's something that might sound defeatist but is actually liberating: you'll probably never eliminate earwigs entirely, and that's okay. They're part of the ecosystem, playing roles we don't always appreciate. The goal isn't eradication; it's management.

I've noticed that properties with healthy bird populations tend to have fewer earwig problems. Birds love earwigs—they're like popcorn shrimp for sparrows and wrens. Installing bird houses and maintaining bird-friendly landscaping creates natural population control.

Similarly, ground beetles are voracious earwig predators. These beneficial insects thrive in the same environments as earwigs but keep their populations in check. By avoiding broad-spectrum pesticides and maintaining some wild areas in your garden, you encourage these natural allies.

The Bottom Line

After all these years and countless encounters, I've developed an odd fondness for earwigs. They're survivors, adapting to environments far from their Mediterranean origins. They're devoted parents in a world where most insects abandon their young. And despite their fierce appearance, they're essentially harmless scavengers trying to make a living in an increasingly hostile world.

That said, I also understand the visceral reaction they provoke and the real damage they can cause to gardens and peace of mind. The methods I've outlined here aren't just theoretical—they're battle-tested approaches that work without turning your home into a chemical wasteland.

Remember, the most effective pest control mimics nature rather than declaring war on it. By understanding earwigs' needs and behaviors, creating inhospitable conditions for large populations, and encouraging natural predators, you can maintain a balance that keeps everyone happy—even if "everyone" includes a few pincher bugs hiding under your garden stones.

The next time you encounter an earwig, maybe you'll think of my grandmother, calmly brushing one aside to harvest her tomatoes. Or maybe you'll just reach for the rolled newspaper and get on with your day. Either way, you'll be dealing with them from a position of knowledge rather than fear, and that makes all the difference.

Authoritative Sources:

Cranshaw, Whitney. Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs. Princeton University Press, 2018.

Flint, Mary Louise. Pests of the Garden and Small Farm: A Grower's Guide to Using Less Pesticide. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2018.

Jacobs, Steve. "European Earwigs." Penn State Extension, The Pennsylvania State University, 2019. extension.psu.edu/european-earwigs.

Langston, R.L., and J.A. Powell. "The Earwigs of California." Bulletin of the California Insect Survey, vol. 20, University of California Press, 1975.

Moore, Frank. "Earwigs: Order Dermaptera." Featured Creatures, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 2021. entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/european_earwig.htm.

Olkowski, William, et al. The Gardener's Guide to Common-Sense Pest Control. The Taunton Press, 2013.