Earwig Control: How to Get Rid of Earwigs

This page is a general earwig control guide. Using the products and methods suggested, you will get control of earwigs. Follow this guide and use the recommended products, and we guarantee 100% control over earwigs.

Earwigs, also known as pincher bugs, are among the most common pests around homes and businesses.

They are easily identified by a set of pincers at the end of their bodies, which are harmless to humans despite their appearance. 

Earwigs are drawn to high moisture levels and are typically found in yards where mulch, soil, and leaf litter retain water. They will then make their way indoors, attracted to the moisture presence in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.

While they are harmless to people and pets, they can invade homes in large numbers and damage vegetation around the property.

Identification

You will want to begin your control method by identifying the earwig. Proper control cannot be achieved without first positively identifying the pest. There are many species of earwigs that you might see, but the following characteristics all easily identify them:

• There is a pair of pincers at the end of the body. The males' pincers are curved, and the females' pincers are straight.
• Range from 0.5 to 2 cm in length.
• Have long antennae.
• They have flight wings hidden under leather-like forewings. Most do not fly, and if they do, it is a clumsy and short flight.
• Some species will emit a foul odor when attacked or killed.

Inspection

Inspecting the property for earwig activity is critical for control. It would be best if you understood where to treat earwigs and how to prevent them from coming back. Earwigs generally harbor in cool, wet areas that do not see much disturbance and feed on decaying organic material, vegetation, and other insects. 

Where to Inspect

The most common places earwigs are found in the yard are under leaf litter, mulch beds, flower beds, wood debris, in or around compost piles, under paving stones and brick, under landscaping rocks, and in areas with poor drainage or leaky plumbing. 

Check inside under bathroom and kitchen sinks, under appliances like dishwashers and washing machines, around bathroom fixtures, and basements. 

What to Look For

When inspecting your turf and ornamental plants, check for small holes or chewed edges on leaves. Inside, earwigs do not leave much evidence of their activity, so you will be looking for the insect itself. This is why you will want to focus on those high-moisture areas. 

Treatment

Now that you have confirmed earwig activity, it is time to begin treatment. Remember to keep yourself safe by wearing all required personal protective equipment (PPE) and reading the label of any pest control product you plan on using.

Step 1: Exterior Treatment

Begin your chemical treatment outside of the structure. This includes all entry points to the structure and any turf and ornamental beds seeing earwig activity. Combining Supreme IT liquid concentrate and Ficam Insect Bait would be best to do this. Supreme IT creates an insecticidal barrier around the home or business to stop earwigs and other insects from entering. Ficam is a moisture-resistant, dry bait that acts as a stomach poison and does not require direct application to where earwigs harbor. 

Supreme I/T

You will mix Supreme IT with water in a handheld pump sprayer at a rate of 0.5 fl. oz. per 1 gallon of water. This application rate will treat 1,000 square feet.

Spray the solution along the foundation of the building, three feet up the wall and three feet out, around the perimeter of the structure. Be sure to also treat weep holes and cracks in the foundation and create an insecticide band around the structure. When spraying, be sure to spray to wet, not runoff.

Then spray common entry points around the structure, such as:

• Window frames
• Door frames
• Ventilation hoods and screens
• Where pipes and electrical wires penetrate the walls

Applying Supreme IT will create an insecticidal barrier that will kill and repel earwigs and insects trying to enter the home or business for up to three months.

Ficam Insect Bait

Ficam can be applied as a spot bait placement or a broadcast application.

Apply Ficam in moist areas with vegetation or decaying organic matter, such as mulch beds, flower beds, landscaping, and around wood piles and leaf litter. You will apply Ficam at a rate of four pounds per 1,000 square feet (1 1/4 cups per 100 square feet). 

Using Ficam Insect Bait will create an irresistible and deadly lure for earwigs and other insect pests. Because earwigs can sometimes be challenging to find, lethal bait will give you indirect and effective control. Do not apply Ficam where you have sprayed the Supreme I/T. Supreme I/T is a repellent that will deter the earwigs from using the Ficam application.

Step 2: Interior Treatment

Now, move inside and treat with insecticidal dust. You will need D-Fense Dust and a handheld duster. D-Fense Dust is a dry insecticidal dust perfect for treating hard-to-reach areas. Because it is dry, it can easily be applied to spots inside walls or behind appliances.

Add D-Fense Dust to the handheld duster. Fill the duster only halfway to leave room for air within the duster. Puff the dust into voids, cracks, and crevices around the interior.

This includes under sinks where the plumbing penetrates the walls, behind baseboards, under and behind large appliances, under toilets and bathtubs, and behind electrical outlets and switch plates. Do not apply D-Fense directly to electrical outlets, and shut off power to any electrical plate that will be treated. 

The D-Fense Dust application will cover any earwigs inside or entered before the previous Supreme I/T application. When the earwigs track through the dust, they will pick up the insecticide and be poisoned. If left undisturbed, it can last up to eight months.

Step 3: Exclusion

When you finish your chemical application, it is time to address all possible entry points. You will need caulk to seal any cracks and crevices around the structure. You should also repair any damaged or loose window and door seals and fix any worn or damaged screens around windows and vents.

By sealing off, repairing entry points to the home or business, and addressing conducive conditions, you will ensure that an earwig infestation cannot continue.  

Prevention

When treatment is complete, total control continues with prevention. Taking the necessary steps and remaining diligent will prevent an earwig infestation from reoccurring. Continue to eliminate conducive conditions by reducing moisture around the property.

Check and repair any leaky faucets or plumbing and drainage gutters. Remove leaf litter or debris that collects water without disturbing your Ficam Bait placements. Regularly ventilate basements and other rooms with high moisture levels.

Be sure to re-apply your insecticides every three months for long-lasting control.

Key Takeaways

• Earwigs might look like scary pincher bugs, but they are harmless. They feed on other insects, decaying organic matter, plant leaves, and root shoots. But if left untreated, they can damage vegetable gardens and landscaped ornamentals.
• Earwigs prefer cool, wet areas. So, when treating around the property, focus on high moisture areas like mulch beds, flower beds, and yard debris.
• Using Ficam bait in conducive areas is an effective treatment method as it does not rely on a direct application to where earwigs may be hiding.
• Due to its repelling and lethal action, Supreme I/T is essential for stopping earwigs from entering the structure. This will repel earwigs away from the home or business, pushing them further toward the deadly Ficam bait.
• Treating cracks and crevices with D-Fense Dust and sealing entry points will eliminate earwigs inside the structure and add an extra prevention layer.