Seal gaps, dry damp spots, remove cluttered shelter, run nightly traps, and use dry barriers like diatomaceous earth to keep earwigs away.
How Earwigs Get In And What Draws Them
Most visits start outdoors. Earwigs hide under mulch, leaves, lumber, pots, and edging by day, then roam at night. Moist soil and stacked items make perfect cover. Lights can add to the draw because they pull in other insects, which become food. Small gaps around doors, vents, and siding turn a yard problem into an indoor one.
University extensions describe the pattern the same way: cut shelter, fix wet spots, and trap at night to bring numbers down. See the clear guidance from the UC Statewide IPM earwigs page and the University of Minnesota earwigs guide.
Earwig Control At A Glance
| Method | What it does | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Seal and block | Stops entry by closing gaps and adding door sweeps and screens | Any home with basement, crawl space, or ground-level doors |
| Dry the area | Removes the damp cover earwigs seek during the day | Around foundations, beds, sheds, and low-airflow rooms |
| Night traps | Captures roaming earwigs when they feed | Near plants, along walls, beside doors and window wells |
| Dry barriers | Uses dusts that scratch and dry the shell on contact | Cracks, wall gaps, and dry borders where kids and pets won’t touch |
| Spot sprays | Targets tough hotspots only when other steps fall short | Foundation bands, wall voids, and outdoor gaps per product label |
How To Keep Earwigs Away In The House
Start at the doors. Add tight sweeps so the rubber just kisses the floor. Fit weatherstripping so no light shows at the sides. Patch screens and add fine mesh to vents that sit low on walls. Seal wide cracks with backer rod and a good exterior sealant. Indoors, seal pipe and wire cutouts with caulk or foam so wall voids don’t act like hallways.
Next, dry the places earwigs like to rest. Set a dehumidifier to the low fifties in basements and laundry rooms. Fix drips, slope the condensate line to a drain, and wrap cold pipes that sweat. Lift cardboard off concrete with plastic bins or wire racks. Store firewood outdoors. Run bathroom fans long enough to clear steam after showers.
Now trap the night shift. Set shallow oil traps where you see activity. A low can with vegetable oil and a drop of fish oil or bacon grease works well. Place the rim level with the soil near doors and window wells, or on the floor beside baseboards. Empty each morning into soapy water, then reset. Rolled newspaper, short hose pieces, and corrugated cardboard also work. Set them out at dusk and shake the catch into soapy water at dawn.
Vacuum any stragglers you find indoors. Bag the contents and toss them outside. Keep light use low at doors at night or swap bright bulbs for warmer “bug” LEDs to cut the draw of flying prey.
Extra sealing tips that pay off
Check door thresholds with a strip of paper. If you can slide it under the door with little resistance, the sweep needs an adjustment. Look up at dusk and scan soffit vents and attic screens for gaps. Seal cracks where the slab meets the sill plate. Cover weep holes with vent inserts that keep airflow but block pests. Use stainless mesh behind covers for cable and AC lines before sealing the plate.
Housekeeping that makes a difference
Keep pet dishes tidy at night. Wipe spills near baseboards. Clear stacks of paper and boxes off basement floors. Switch from soggy floor mats to quick-dry options near entryways. Empty indoor plant saucers after watering. Small changes remove the daytime nooks earwigs pick every time.
Keeping Earwigs Away Outdoors: Garden Steps
Think tidy, dry, and open. Pull mulch back 12–18 inches from the foundation so you have a clean border of bare soil or gravel. Rake away leaf piles, fallen fruit, and grass clippings. Lift pots on feet, and store spare boards, stones, and planters off the ground. Water in the morning and switch to drip or soaker lines to keep the top layer drier by night.
Earwigs help and hurt outside. They chew seedlings, soft fruit, and petals, yet they also eat aphids and other soft pests. If you see light feeding on mature plants, simple trapping may be all you need. When seedlings and flowers take heavy hits, add more traps and tighten the cleanup list above. Guidance from land-grant programs mirrors this balanced view and keeps gardens healthy without heavy inputs.
Barriers And Repellents That Help
Dusts with a drying action create a no-go zone. Diatomaceous earth and silica gel scratch the waxy layer on the shell, which leads to water loss. Use a light, even puff into wall gaps, voids, and dry cracks. Keep dust off flower petals and food surfaces. Don’t use near fans or open windows to avoid drift. For safety and use sites, see the National Pesticide Information Center fact sheet on diatomaceous earth.
Sticky bands on tree trunks can cut climbing to fruit. Copper tape can help around small raised beds and planters. On patios, a strip of dry gravel around the base of planters cuts cool cover under pots. A tidy rock border along walls removes soft hiding spots and still looks neat.
Traps That Work
Oil traps are the workhorse. Use a tuna can or shallow cup with a thin layer of vegetable oil and a dab of fish oil or bacon grease. Sink it so the rim is level with the surface. Place near damaged plants, under benches, along fences, and by doors. Refresh after rain.
Newspaper and hose traps
Roll a few sheets of newspaper into loose tubes, dampen slightly, and set near plants at dusk. Short pieces of old garden hose work the same way. In the morning, shake the catch into a bucket of soapy water.
Cardboard shelters
Flatten a strip of corrugated cardboard and place it shiny side up near beds. Earwigs tuck into the grooves. Check at dawn and knock them into soapy water.
Where to place traps
Cluster traps along shady edges, under benches, and beside favorite plants. Add two near compost bins and wood piles. Keep them out of reach of small kids and pets. Rotate spots each week to find the best lines of travel.
When Sprays Enter The Picture
Most homes won’t need them. If numbers stay high after sealing, drying, and trapping, a labeled spray around the base of walls and door frames can help. Choose products listed for earwigs and follow the label for mix, placement, and reentry time. Granular baits and perimeter insecticides should stay outside. Keep treatments away from flowers that draw pollinators, and avoid broadcast use on beds where you want natural predators at work.
Moisture Fix Checklist For Long-Term Relief
Moisture invites daytime hiding. Knock these out and you cut a main reason earwigs stick around.
| Task | Why it matters | Quick tip |
|---|---|---|
| Extend downspouts | Moves roof runoff away from the slab | Use a splash block or a 2–3 m extension |
| Regrade low spots | Prevents puddles that keep soil damp | Top-dress with soil and pack firmly |
| Fix leaks fast | Stops steady wet patches under sinks and on walls | Check traps, valves, and supply lines each month |
| Vent crawl spaces | Lowers humidity and dries joists | Add vents or a fan with a humidistat as needed |
| Trim dense groundcovers | Opens airflow so the top layer dries by night | Create clear bands along paths and walls |
Smart Lighting Choices Reduce Night Visits
Bright white bulbs near doors lure moths and midges, which then lure earwigs. Swap to yellow “bug” LEDs or move lights higher and farther from doors. Shield fixtures so the beam points down. On porches, use motion sensors to limit run