Earwigs

Earwigs are common nuisance pests in Ontario, especially during warm, damp weather. While they are mainly outdoor insects, they often wander into homes, garages, sheds, and other structures when conditions outside are favourable. They are especially attracted to cool, dark, moist hiding places, which is why they are often found under mulch, stones, boards, leaf litter, and around foundations. Earwigs may begin wandering into homes in June or July.

Although their pincers can make them look intimidating, earwigs are not considered directly harmful to people. Their forceps are mainly used for defence and courtship, and at most may cause a slight pinch. Indoors, they are usually more of a nuisance than a serious structural pest.

What Do Earwigs Look Like?

Earwigs have a long, flattened body with a shiny reddish-brown to dark brown appearance and a distinctive pair of pincers, or forceps, at the end of the abdomen. Adults are typically about 1.5 to 2 cm long, or 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch in length. Males usually have more curved forceps, while females have straighter ones. Even though they have wings, they seldom fly.

Signs of an Earwig Problem

Most earwig problems are identified by repeated sightings, especially in damp areas or near doors, windows, and foundations. Common signs include:

Earwigs found in bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms, garages, or under stored items
Earwigs gathering around patios, porches, and exterior walls
Activity around mulch beds, leaf litter, wood piles, or damp landscaping
Damage to flowers, vegetables, seedlings, and soft leaves
Earwigs appearing indoors at night or after wet weather

Because earwigs are nocturnal and hide well during the day, you may notice them most often when moving outdoor items or turning on lights at night.

How to Keep Earwigs Away

Earwig prevention is mostly about reducing moisture and hiding spots around the exterior of the home. Helpful steps include:

Trim back vegetation touching the house
Remove excess mulch, leaves, grass clippings, and organic debris near the foundation
Store firewood and other damp materials away from the home
Repair leaking taps, downspouts, and drainage issues
Direct water away from the foundation
Seal gaps around doors, windows, and utility entry points
Reduce damp, cluttered hiding places indoors and out

Health Canada advises creating a clean, low-moisture perimeter around the house as one of the most effective ways to reduce earwig activity.

Why DIY Earwig Control Often Falls Short

Earwigs are often treated as a simple indoor pest, but the real source of the problem is usually outside. If exterior moisture, shelter, and entry points are not addressed, indoor sightings may continue even after the visible insects are removed. Because infestations are often tied to the surrounding environment, control usually works best when the full property is considered, not just the individual bugs found inside. Health Canada also notes that broad control is most effective when done early and, in more populated areas, can work best on a wider neighbourhood basis.

When to call Rural Routes

If you have noticed earwigs inside or around your home, it is time to call in the pest control experts. Rural Routes Pest Control can help identify where the earwig activity is coming from and provide treatment recommendations to reduce the problem at the source.

for more information about our earwig control service.