Around the Home: Earwigs

This week I was asked to address the pesky business of earwigs (Forficula auricularia L).  Like many insects, earwigs have frightening appendages that make them look dangerous, but they are quite harmless.  You know these as the flat, narrow bodied insects with forcecep-like tails.  Occasionally, I see them around the foundation of homes and in landscape beds and they do find their way into homes and buildings from time to time.  They are active at night, rarely fly, and actually may be considered “beneficial” in that they prey on other insects, spiders and mites.  But the real question, regardless of there potential utility as a predator on other insects, is what can the homeowner do to keep these creatures out of the house?

 

First, try to seal up windows, doors, and cracks around a foundation.  This should always be the first priority before any insecticide treatment.  Second, attempt to maintain a dry zone around the home that is free of mulch and other plant debri.  If you have mulched landscaping beds, try to maintain a zone of loose stone against the foundation instead of mulch.  These are your best long-term practices.  Outdoor perimeter insecticide sprays may be used and many over-the-counter products are available for the homeowner.  Keep in mind that sprays are short term and must be repeated to maintain a protective barrier.  Do not rely on indoor treatments alone.  An indoor treatment should only be used with properly labeled products after an outdoor treatment has been applied in order to be of useful value.

 

For a complete fact sheet on earwig management, go to https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/HYG-2068