These articles are written to apply to the northeastern corner of Illinois. Problems and timing may not apply outside of this area.

Dealing with Earwigs Around the Home July 2, 1998 Earwigs are again making themselves a nuisance around yards, gardens, and in some cases, homes. While it's unlikely they will disappear, there are some ways to manage earwigs. In the unlikely event you are not familiar with them, earwigs are elongate insects, usually reddish-brown in color (nymphs may appear darker), with pincer-like projections on the end of the body called forceps. They may appear like roaches, but are not related. Earwigs are most active at night, and like to hide in cool, dark areas during the day, such as cracks and crevices of tree trunks. Earwigs primarily scavenge on dead plant materials and dead insects, although they may feed on live plants. Common targets include marigolds, dahlias, zinnias, roses, lettuce, and strawberries. Plants defoliated overnight, with no sign of pests in daylight, might have been attacked by earwigs. Earwigs are not poisonous, and do not bite or sting. They could pinch with their forceps, however, if handled. While they are not considered harmful, large numbers appearing in and around the home certainly makes them a major nuisance. To reduce earwig numbers around the home, eliminate favorable habitat, in particular around the foundation area. Remove leaf litter, stones, and mulches next to the foundation. Try to establish a zone of bare concrete or soil that will dry out. Trim shrubs and other vegetation in this area. Next, work on reducing entry points for these and other insects. Check door thresholds, windows and screens for a tight fit. Caulk cracks and crevices around windows, doors, cables coming into walls, and in the foundation itself. To control earwigs, pieces of hose or similar material may be put to trap earwigs at night, then emptied in the morning. Plants being devoured by earwigs may be treated with carbaryl (Sevin). Be sure to read and follow all label directions when using this or any other insecticide in the yard or garden. Keep insecticides away from blooms of plants. Using a vacuum cleaner may be the best bet if several earwigs are present inside the home. In addition, ready-to-use insecticide sprays are available for application to baseboards, doorframes, and cracks/crevices. Be sure to follow label directions.

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