Earwigs, belonging to the insect order Dermaptera, are common insects often considered nuisance pests in gardens and homes. They are instantly recognizable by the prominent pair of pincer-like appendages, called cerci, extending from their abdomen. Earwigs are highly dependent on moisture and shelter. Locating their hidden nesting and resting sites is the primary step in managing their populations and achieving effective prevention and control.
Earwig Habitats and Daytime Shelter
Earwigs are active primarily at night, which means they spend daylight hours seeking cool, dark, and damp environments for refuge. Outdoors, these insects frequently congregate beneath objects that retain moisture and provide overhead cover. Common hiding spots include under rocks, logs, boards, thick layers of mulch, leaf litter, and other decaying plant matter. The soil beneath heavy ground cover and the base of dense shrubbery also serve as ideal daytime shelters.
Earwigs are often found near a home’s foundation, especially where soil remains damp due to poor drainage or exterior water features. When outdoor conditions become too hot, dry, or cold, earwigs may migrate indoors. They typically enter through small gaps at ground level, often ending up in damp basements, crawl spaces, or rooms with plumbing leaks where humidity is high.
The Reproductive Nesting Chamber
The reproductive cycle of the female earwig involves creating a specialized, protected nesting chamber, often during late fall or early spring. The female typically excavates a small burrow in the soil, which may be a shallow depression or a short tunnel system, usually just 1 to 2 inches deep, or she utilizes a crevice under debris. This chamber is where she deposits her clutch of 20 to 80 pearly white eggs.
The female earwig displays a strong form of maternal care, a trait uncommon among non-social insects. She remains with the egg mass, guarding it aggressively from predators and other earwigs. She continuously cleans the eggs with her mouthparts, which prevents the growth of mold and fungus that could destroy the clutch. After the eggs hatch into nymphs, the mother continues to protect and feed her young via regurgitation until they undergo their second molt and begin to forage independently.
Modifying High-Risk Environments
Managing earwig populations requires modifying the environments that provide them with shelter and moisture. A primary focus should be on reducing the availability of damp hiding spots immediately surrounding the home’s perimeter. This involves clearing away organic debris, such as leaf piles, grass clippings, and old boards, which serve as excellent daytime refuges.
Creating a dry, clean zone around the foundation is highly effective, which can be achieved by pulling back mulch and heavy ground cover several inches from the building. Eliminating sources of excess moisture is important, meaning any leaky outdoor faucets or air conditioning condensation lines must be fixed. Ensuring that water drains away from the structure, often by improving grading or clearing gutters, helps keep the foundation dry and less attractive to earwigs seeking harborage.