Earwigs are a common garden pest that can damage plants and be a nuisance. Getting rid of earwigs in your garden takes some work, but it can be done using both chemical and non-chemical methods. With persistence and by taking preventative measures, you can help keep earwig populations low and protect your garden plants.
What Are Earwigs?
Earwigs are small, slender insects around 1/2 to 1 inch long. They are brown or black in color and have distinctive pincers or forceps on their abdomen. Though harmless to people, earwigs use these pincers to feed on plant parts and can cause damage to flowers, fruits, and vegetables in the garden.
There are over 1,200 species of earwigs around the world, but the European earwig (Forficula auricularia) is the most common in North America. Earwigs are generally nocturnal and hide during the day in dark, damp places. Common earwig hiding spots include under rocks, boards, plant debris, mulch, and in the soil. They may also crawl into crevices or hide in plant stalks.
Why Earwigs Can Be Problematic in Gardens
Earwigs are omnivores and scavengers that feed on a variety of plant and animal matter. Their pincers make them effective at tearing into plant tissues, and they will feed on live plants as well as dead or decaying organic matter.
Some ways earwigs can cause issues in the garden include:
- Feeding damage – Earwigs chew irregular holes in leaves, flowers, and ripe fruits and vegetables.
- Spread of disease – Their feeding can create entry points for plant diseases.
- Promotion of mold growth – Their excrement contributes to damaging mold growth on plants.
- Destruction of seedlings – Tender roots and shoots of seedlings may be clipped off.
Left uncontrolled, earwig feeding and destruction can impact the health and aesthetic appeal of garden plants. Keeping their numbers in check is important.
Effective Ways to Get Rid of Earwigs
Dealing with earwigs takes diligence and multiple control methods used preventatively and curatively. Here are some of the top techniques to reduce earwigs in your garden spaces:
Remove Excess Debris and Mulch
Earwigs rely on moist, dark places to hide during the day. Keep the garden free of piles of debris, compost, thick mulch, and other potential nesting sites as much as possible.
Rake away debris from under plants. Pull mulch back several inches from base of plants if earwig damage is noticed. Remove weeds and dead leaves where earwigs could be hiding.
Keeping the garden tidy eliminates protective spots and forces earwigs into the open where other treatments can be more effective.
Use Traps Around Vulnerable Plants
Trapping is an easy control method that can capture many earwigs prowling for food at night.
Dig a small hole or cup near susceptible plants and fill with attractive baits like vegetable oil, fish oil, or soy sauce. Or place upside-down flower pots stuffed with damp straw or crumpled newspaper on the ground.
Check these traps daily and dump any captured earwigs into soapy water to kill them. Using traps continually can help reduce damage.
Apply Desiccant Dusts Around Plants
Special desiccant dust insecticides like diatomaceous earth (DE) can be sprinkled around vulnerable garden plants to deter and kill earwigs through contact. The sharp DE powder absorbs the waxy cuticle layer on insect bodies, causing dehydration and death.
Apply a fine coating around stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits, especially after rainfall washes it away. Wear a mask to avoid inhaling the dust while applying. Reapply weekly to keep earwigs away.
Use Repellent Plants as Companions
Certain plants naturally repel earwigs with their strong scents or flavors. Intercropping these throughout the garden can help deter earwigs and offer some protection.
Some effective repellent companion plants include:
- Marigolds
- Basil
- Catnip
- Petunias
- Garlic
- Chives
The strong aromas of these herbs and flowers mask attractive smells and make plants less appetizing to earwigs.
Apply Homemade Sprays
Natural insecticidal sprays can be used on vulnerable plants to repel and kill earwigs. Spray plants in the evening when earwigs are most active.
- Soapy water – Mix 2 tsp insecticidal soap or liquid dish soap with 1 quart water. Kills earwigs by contact.
- Neem oil – Make a 0.5% to 1% spray solution and apply to leaves, stems, flowers. Acts as repellent and insecticide.
- Chili spray – Blend 1 tbsp cayenne pepper with 1 quart water. The capsaicin deters earwigs.
Always coat plants thoroughly with homemade sprays and reapply after rain. Test small sections of plants first to ensure tolerance.
Apply Beneficial Nematodes
Beneficial nematodes are microscopic worms that parasitize and kill earwig larvae and eggs in the soil. Steinernema or Heterorhabditis nematodes can be purchased and applied as a biological insecticide.
Follow product instructions for diluting and applying the nematodes in soil around plants or suspected earwig nesting spots. Provide moisture for several weeks to establish their populations.
Use Commercial Insecticides
As a last resort if earwigs are severe, commercial insecticides can be applied such as:
- Carbaryl – Can be sprayed over foliage.
- Bifenthrin – Apply as a perimeter treatment around gardens.
- Lambda-cyhalothrin – Spray on plants and soil to kill earwigs contact.
Always read and precisely follow pesticide labels, wear protective equipment, and keep children/pets away during treatment. Avoid pesticide use if possible to protect pollinators and the environment. Only select narrow spectrum chemicals that are least toxic to beneficial garden life.
Prevent Earwigs by Making Your Garden Less Hospitable
Along with control efforts, certain practices can make it harder for earwig populations to thrive and enable fewer to migrate into your garden spaces.
Eliminate Moisture Sources
Earwigs need constant moisture to survive. Eliminate damp areas in the garden by:
- Installing proper drainage and grading if soggy spots exist
- Watering in morning so plants dry thoroughly during day
- Fixing leaking hoses, spigots, or irrigation
- Allowing spaces between plants for air circulation
- Using drip irrigation rather than overhead watering
Keeping the garden ecosystem uniformly drier deprives earwigs of the dampness they depend on.
Use Raised Beds
Planting in raised garden beds can make it easier to keep soil and mulch from being overly moist. The beds allow air circulation under the roots and provide warmer, better-draining soil.
Use concrete block, brick, or wood to create beds at least 6-12 inches high. Then fill with quality potting soil mix and follow good watering practices. The improved drainage will discourage earwigs.
Remove Hiding Spots
As discussed for control, eliminating debris piles, weeds, dead leaves, and thick mulch denies earwigs places to nest and breed during daylight.
Keep the garden free from clutter. Use just a thin layer of gravel or wood chip mulch and keep it pulled back from plant bases if possible. This exposes earwigs to predators and insecticides.
Attract Birds to Your Garden
Natural predators like birds will prey on earwigs and can help reduce populations. Attract insect-eating birds to your garden areas by:
- Putting up nest boxes and feeders
- Providing a water source like a bird bath
- Letting shrubs and trees provide shelter
- Avoiding pesticide use
Robins, warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, and other birds will visit gardens and feed on earwigs if their needs are met.
When to Call for Professional Help
Occasional earwigs in the garden can be controlled through diligent monitoring and management. But if populations are consistently high year after year despite your best efforts, seeking professional pest control may be warranted.
Signs that it’s time to call in an expert include:
- Severe plant damage from earwigs
- Large numbers caught in traps nightly
- Seeing earwigs during the day
- Finding nests and eggs while cultivating soil
- Failed attempts using multiple DIY methods
A qualified exterminator can assess the extent of the infestation, identify any environmental factors supporting the earwigs, and implement effective chemical and non-chemical treatment options that provide stronger, long-term control. This provides the best chance of eliminating persistent earwig problems.
Frequently Asked Questions About Controlling Earwigs in Gardens
Are earwigs beneficial to gardens?
Earwigs are omnivores and in small numbers can provide some benefits like feeding on aphids and small pest insects. But their plant damage usually outweighs any advantages in home gardens. Their populations need to be controlled.
Are earwigs dangerous to people?
Earwigs are not poisonous or harmful to human health. Their pincers could potentially deliver a nip but they do not bite aggressively. The pincers are mainly used for mating rituals and defense. Earwigs pose no serious risks to gardeners.
Do earwigs come inside homes?
Earwigs rarely survive indoors as houses lack the damp, dark hiding spots they need. They may crawl inside by accident through cracks or under doors. Use sealing and traps to catch stray earwigs that end up inside. Monitor for entry points and seal them.
Can you use a blacklight to trap earwigs?
Blacklight traps take advantage of earwigs’ attraction to ultraviolet light wavelengths. Hang a battery powered blacklight UV LED bulb over a pan of soapy water at night to attract and drown earwigs. This can supplement other trapping methods. Replace batteries and soapy water daily.
Are pesticide sprays or baits effective for earwigs?
Yes, commercial pesticide products containing chemicals like carbaryl, bifenthrin or lambda-cyhalothrin can kill earwigs through contact or ingestion. Look for formulated earwig baits, residual sprays, and perimeter treatments and follow all label directions strictly for best results. Only use as a last resort if needed.
How can I make my own earwig trap cheaply?
Simple traps can be made from household items:
- 2 liter plastic soda bottle – Cut the top off, invert it into the bottom half and use bait
- Cardboard tubes – Stuff toilet paper or paper towel tubes with crumpled paper and bait
- Can with tight lid – Punch small holes, add bait, set out overnight
Check DIY traps daily and dispose of captured earwigs in soapy water.
Conclusion
Earwigs can quickly become a nuisance in home gardens. Their chewing damage on flowers, fruits, and vegetables can be extensive. With proactive monitoring, removal tactics, and cultural practices to reduce harborage, populations can be lowered to tolerable levels. Trapping, desiccant dusts, repellent plants, insecticidal sprays, and eliminating excess moisture sources are some of the most effective ways to rid gardens of problematic earwigs for the long run. Pay attention to vulnerable plants, keep control methods ongoing when earwigs are active, and try preventive measures like raised beds to make the habitat less suitable.