If you have noticed a surge in the number of earwigs this year, you are certainly not alone. These small, elongated insects (Forficula auricularia) are a common sight, but their populations occasionally explode into noticeable booms. A dramatic increase in their numbers points directly to a specific set of environmental and meteorological conditions. This year’s unusual weather patterns have created an ideal environment for these insects to thrive and reproduce at an accelerated rate. Understanding the factors contributing to this population spike explains why you are seeing so many earwigs and provides context for effective management.
What Exactly Are Earwigs?
Earwigs belong to the insect order Dermaptera and are easily identified by the pair of prominent, pincer-like appendages, called cerci, extending from the rear of their abdomen. The common European earwig is typically dark brown, growing to about one inch in length, with a flattened body that allows it to easily slip into tight crevices. Males possess strongly curved pincers, while females have straighter ones, which they use for defense, catching prey, and folding their rarely-used hindwings.
These insects are primarily nocturnal, seeking out dark, cool, and especially moist places to hide during the day. Earwigs are omnivorous, meaning they feed on decaying vegetation, fungi, algae, and other insects like aphids. The myth that earwigs crawl into human ears to burrow into the brain is unfounded, as they are simply seeking a dark, protected place and pose minimal threat to people. While generally harmless, their presence in high numbers can become a nuisance, and they can damage garden plants like seedlings, flowers, and soft fruits.
Environmental Reasons for Increased Populations
The primary reason for this year’s high earwig population is linked to an ideal convergence of weather patterns that boosted both survival and reproduction rates. Earwigs thrive in high-moisture environments, and extended periods of heavy spring rains or high summer humidity provide the perfect conditions for them to breed successfully. Consistent moisture in the soil prevents their eggs and young nymphs from drying out, which significantly increases the number of young that survive to adulthood.
A mild winter preceding the current season also played a substantial role in the population surge. When temperatures remain consistently warmer than average throughout the winter, a higher proportion of hibernating adult females survive, allowing them to begin laying eggs earlier and in greater numbers come spring. This combination of reduced winter mortality and accelerated spring reproduction compresses the life cycle, leading to a much larger first generation of earwigs. The warm, sticky summer weather further sustains the high humidity levels they require to remain active and reproduce throughout the season.
Changes in food availability also contribute to the population boom, as earwigs are opportunistic feeders. Weather conditions that lead to a high volume of decaying organic matter or a spike in other soft-bodied garden pests, such as aphids, provide an abundant food source for earwigs. This plentiful food supply supports a larger, healthier population capable of rapid reproduction. When the outdoor environment becomes too saturated or overcrowded, earwigs often migrate toward structures in search of drier, more hospitable shelter.
Furthermore, localized habitat factors around homes can concentrate existing populations, making the problem seem more severe. Areas with excessive mulch, dense leaf litter, woodpiles, or debris immediately adjacent to the foundation create the dark, damp crevices earwigs seek out for shelter. Poor drainage or leaky outdoor faucets that create persistently wet soil near the home’s perimeter effectively create an ideal breeding ground right where the insects can easily enter the structure.
Practical Steps for Management and Prevention
Managing an earwig population begins with reducing the moisture and shelter they depend on just outside your home. Ensure that all gutters are clean and draining properly, and adjust landscape watering schedules to minimize standing water or excessively damp soil near the foundation. Move woodpiles, decorative stones, and any excessive organic debris, such as mulch or leaf litter, at least six inches away from the perimeter of the structure. This modification removes the protected, moist hiding spots that sustain their numbers.
The next step is to exclude the earwigs from entering the building itself. Inspect the foundation, windows, and door frames, sealing any visible cracks, gaps, or crevices with caulk or weatherstripping. Focus on areas where utility pipes enter the house and where the siding meets the foundation. Inside the home, reduce humidity in basements and crawl spaces using dehumidifiers or by improving ventilation, as earwigs are deterred by a dry environment.
For direct, non-chemical control, simple traps can effectively reduce local populations:
- A shallow container, such as a tuna can, filled with vegetable oil and a drop of bacon grease or soy sauce acts as an attractive, inescapable pitfall trap.
- Roll up a piece of damp newspaper or corrugated cardboard and place it in the garden overnight; the earwigs will crawl inside to hide, allowing you to collect and dispose of them in the morning.
- Encouraging natural predators, such as birds and certain spiders, also helps maintain a balanced ecosystem that keeps earwig numbers in check.