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Learn how to get rid of your earwigs or pincher bugs with these tips.
Earwigs? Ew! Don’t worry—these menacing-looking insects don’t have a thing for ears (or wigs). However, they will target your garden plants. Also known as pincher bugs, earwigs can infiltrate both homes and gardens. This guide will help you identify them, recognize damage, control infestations, and prevent them from coming back.
While their pincers look intimidating, earwigs are generally considered nuisance pests rather than serious threats. While their pincers look intimidating, earwigs are generally considered nuisance pests rather than serious threats. As Iowa State University Extension explains, “They may forage among organic debris and mulch, but they’re generally considered minor pests of vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals.”
Here, we’ll show you how to get rid of earwigs and—just as importantly—how to prevent them, all while maintaining your garden’s natural balance.
Tips for Keeping Earwigs Out of Your Home and Garden
Keeping earwigs away starts with making your environment less inviting. Here’s how:
- Remove hiding spots: Clear mulch, fallen leaves, and debris where earwigs can hide.
- Create dry zones: Move mulch and plant material at least a few inches from your house foundation.
- Check items before bringing them inside: Laundry, houseplants, lawn furniture, and firewood can carry earwigs indoors.
- Encourage natural predators: Birds, toads, and some beneficial insects will eat earwigs.
By taking these steps, you’ll reduce the chances of a surprise infestation in your garden or home.
Do Earwigs Pinch?
The pincers at the end of an earwig’s abdomen look rather formidable. They are capable of pinching (and sometimes biting) humans, but the pinch is not particularly powerful. Earwigs usually use their pincers to ward off enemies like toads and birds, or—in some species—to catch prey.
The pincers, called “cerci,” are also important for romance. Attached at the insect’s abdomen, they are indicators of gender, like tusks on an elephant. A male earwig’s pincers are long and curved, while a female’s are shorter and straighter.
Identification
How to Recognize Earwigs and Pincher Bugs
Earwigs, also called pincher bugs, are a relatively small group of insects that belong to the Order Dermaptera and have been around for over 200 million years. Nearly 2,000 species exist worldwide, though they are rare in polar regions. The term “earwig” comes from Old English ear wicga (“ear wiggler”), based on the myth that they crawl into human ears. In France, they’re called “ear piercers” (perce-oreilles), and in Germany, “ear worms” (Ohrwürmer).
Key identification and facts:
- About ¾ inch long
- Reddish-brown body
- Pincers (cerci) at the end of the abdomen — males’ are long and curved, females’ are shorter and straighter
- Quick movers; rarely fly, though they have two sets of wings
- Nocturnal; hide in dark, damp spaces during the day
- Females care for their eggs until they hatch
- Feed on decaying plants, vegetables, flowers, and occasionally other insects
Signs of Earwig Damage in Plants
- Earwig feeding can be subtle at first, but look for these telltale signs:
- Leaves with jagged edges and holes
- Ragged flowers or tender greens
- Small black pellet-like droppings
- Damage often appears after rainy periods when earwigs move to dry shelters
Which Plants Are Affected
Earwigs mainly eat decaying plant material and wood, but they’ll also munch on living plants if they have the opportunity. Some of their common targets include:
- Vegetables: Favorites are lettuce and celery, also cabbage.
- Fruits: strawberries, tomatoes, and fruit trees
- Flowers: roses, marigolds, and other garden ornamentals
Knowing which plants are most vulnerable helps gardeners monitor damage more effectively and take preventive measures.
Tip: Damage may look like slugs or snails, but earwigs don’t leave slime trails.
Photo Credit: Barbara Pleasant.
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We've had a lot of trouble with earwigs this year, too... Have you tried the oil trap solution, suggested above? Mix equal parts soy sauce and vegetable, olive, or fish oil, then place the mixture into a small container, such as a deli cup or tuna can (note that you will also need a lid). Poke three or four holes in the lid for the earwigs to crawl through, then place the container in the pot of basil, or directly nearby. (You may want to secure the lid with a few pieces of tape, as we have had mice manage to break into the trap before it could be effective.)
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