Here's how to recognize, trap and remove earwigs in the garden. Get expert tips to get rid of these odd-looking insects.
How to Identify and Get Rid of Earwigs
Published on May 01, 2025
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What Do Earwigs Look Like?
If you’ve ever seen them, they’re likely to stick in your memory: and you’ll probably wonder how to get rid of earwigs.
The fastest way to tell if you’re dealing with an earwig is to look for a pincer-shaped protuberance at the bug’s rear end; this distinguishes them from other common household pests, like centipedes or silverfish.
Earwigs are usually between a quarter-inch to an inch in length. Their bodies can be a variety of colors, from brown, to reddish-brown, or black. They boast two large antennae at the front of their head, and they have a total of six legs.
Where to Find Earwigs
Earwigs tend to hang out in the same damp, cool environments where you’d find other creepy crawlies, like centipedes. They feed on leaves, flowers, and fruits of many types of plants, although you’re not likely to see them during the day.
To verify whether you have a problem, you’ll probably need to take a look at night or set a trap to get rid of the earwigs.
What Do Earwigs Eat and Are They Dangerous?
While earwigs can certainly be an annoyance both inside and outside the home, they aren’t dangerous.
Earwigs will eat a variety of foods, including organic matter, insects and plants. They’re uninterested in human brains and won’t lay eggs in your ear canal. If an earwig pinches you (usually in self-defense), it might hurt a bit but the pinchers are not venomous. Your brain and other body parts are safe.
Use Earwig Traps to Get Rid of Them
“Earwigs are destroying the petunias in my hanging baskets and planters. Is there a way to eliminate earwigs without harming pollinators that visit the flowers?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Karen Sexton of Fish Haven, Idaho.
Horticutlre expert Melinda Myers says, “Many gardeners in a variety of locations experienced a recent explosion of earwigs. These insects are predators of aphids and stink bugs but do like to feed on the leaves and flowers of many plants. These insects prefer cool, dark conditions and tend to feed at night like slugs.
Trap earwigs by placing rolled up newspaper or cardboard or hollow pieces of bamboo throughout your gardens. In the morning knock the earwigs out of these traps and into a can of soapy water. Replace the traps and repeat throughout the season as needed.
Spinosad is an organic insecticide that is effective for controlling earwigs. As always, read and follow label directions on insecticides for the safest and most effective control.
RELATED
- 10 Natural Ways to Keep Bugs Out of Your Garden
- How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats on Houseplants
- Control a Box Elder Bug Infestation
Sources
- Utah State University Extension, “Are Earwigs Damaging to My Garden Plants?“
- Orkin, “Are Earwings Dangerous or Poisonous to Humans?“
- National Library of Medicine, “Earwig Crawling in the Ear: Myth or Truth“
About the Expert
Melinda Myers is the official gardening expert for Birds & Blooms. She is a TV/radio host, author and columnist who has written more than 20 gardening books. Melinda earned a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
