Earwigs

Earwig Identification Guide

Physical Characteristics

Earwigs are flat, reddish-brown insects that grow 1/2 to 1 inch long. Their most notable feature is a pair of curved pincers at the tip of their abdomen. These pincers are called cerci. Males have large, curved pincers that spread wide at the base. Females have straighter, thinner pincers that sit closer together.

These insects have six legs and medium-length antennae. They have short front wings and fan-shaped back wings that fold up tight. Despite having wings, earwigs rarely fly. When spread out, the back wings look like human ears. This is where their common name comes from.

Young earwigs look like small adults. They are lighter in color and do not have fully grown wings. They shed their skin several times before becoming adults.

Common Species in North America

• European Earwig (Forficula auricularia): The most common species in homes and gardens across North America. It came from Europe in the early 1900s.

• Ring-legged Earwig (Euborellia annulipes): A smaller species that is dark brown to black. It lives mainly in southern states.

• Striped Earwig (Labidura riparia): Found in sandy soils near coasts and in southern areas. It does not usually harm plants.

Earwig Behavior and Biology

Earwigs are active at night and hide during the day. They like dark, damp spots. You may find them under rocks, logs, mulch, leaf piles, or potted plants. They also hide in cracks around foundations. Earwigs are drawn to light. You may see them near porch lights or lit windows at night.

Diet and Feeding

Earwigs eat many things. They feed on rotting plant matter, fungi, and small insects like aphids and mites. They also eat insect eggs. In gardens, earwigs chew holes in leaves, flower petals, and soft fruits like strawberries. They can harm seedlings and corn silks.

Reproduction and Lifecycle

Female earwigs are good mothers. This is rare among insects. After mating in late summer or fall, the female digs a small hole in the soil. She lays 30 to 55 eggs there. She guards the eggs all winter and keeps them clean by licking them often.

Eggs hatch in spring, usually from late May to early June. The mother cares for the young for several weeks after they hatch. Young earwigs shed their skin four to five times over about 70 days before they become adults. Most earwigs have one batch of young per year. In warmer areas, females may have a second batch.

Seasonal Activity

Earwigs are most active from late spring through early fall. During very hot, dry weather or after heavy rain, they may move in large groups. They often enter homes and buildings looking for moisture and shelter. Most earwigs die in late fall. Mated pairs survive winter by hiding in soil burrows.

How We Treat for Earwigs

We treat earwigs the same way we treat other pests that love moisture, like millipedes and centipedes.

Inspection and Assessment

Our licensed technicians check your property carefully. They look at:

• Areas where you have seen earwigs
• Damp spots like basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms, and laundry rooms
• Entry points like foundation cracks, door gaps, window frames, and pipe openings
• Outdoor areas that attract earwigs, like mulch beds, leaf piles, and wet spots

Interior Treatment

We treat areas inside your home where earwigs are active:

• We apply insecticides along baseboards in affected rooms
• We treat cracks and gaps around entry points and hiding spots
• We focus on damp areas where earwigs gather

Exterior Perimeter Treatment

We also treat the outside of your home for lasting protection:

• We apply granular or liquid insecticides around your foundation
• We treat mulch beds, landscape timbers, and areas with plant debris
• We treat around doors, window wells, and utility access points

Prevention Tips

Our technicians share ways to make your home less inviting to earwigs:

• Reduce moisture. Fix drainage problems, adjust sprinklers, and add ventilation to damp areas.
• Change the habitat. Pull mulch away from your foundation, clear leaf litter, and remove hiding spots.
• Seal entry points. Fill cracks in the foundation, add door sweeps, and caulk gaps around windows.
• Change your lights. Swap white outdoor bulbs for yellow ones, which attract fewer earwigs.

Ongoing Maintenance

Earwigs can keep coming back if conditions are right. We offer a tri-annual service plan with three treatments per year to keep them under control. This plan includes:

• Scheduled treatments before peak earwig season
• Checks at each visit to track activity
• Free callbacks if earwigs return between visits

References

• Earwigs - University of Minnesota Extension
• Earwigs - UC Agriculture & Natural Resources
• European Earwig - University of Florida Entomology
• Forficula auricularia - Animal Diversity Web