Sasha CampbellEarwigs can be helpful because they eat aphids, insect eggs, and other garden pests.
But when their numbers get too high, they may also feed on seedlings, flowers, soft fruits, and vegetables. If that happens, there are several ways to get rid of earwigs organically without harming your garden.
Earwigs (pincher bugs) fall into the insect order Dermaptera [1]. They are found on every continent except Antarctica. The extreme cold conditions there prevent them from surviving.
How to Get Rid of Earwigs (Pincher Bugs) Naturally
Below are some of the best natural ways to get rid of earwigs in the garden, potted plants, and around the home.
1. Soapy Water
This solution is a simple home remedy for earwigs in the garden.
Mix 1 tablespoon of organic liquid dish soap with 1 quart of water, then pour it into a spray bottle.
Next, spray the soapy water directly onto the earwigs. It may kill earwigs on contact if the spray reaches them directly.
2. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Food-grade diatomaceous earth damages the earwigs’ outer coating, causing them to dry out and die over time.
Sprinkle food-grade DE around the roots of your crops, potted plants, and other areas where you’ve seen the pests.
Reapply after rain or watering because moisture reduces its effectiveness. Read more about how to make diatomaceous earth spray and use it in the garden.
This is the brand we recommend for outdoor use. You can also use food-grade diatomaceous earth in dry indoor areas where earwigs hide, such as garages, basements, or around entry points.
3. Essential Oils
This remedy repels rather than kills earwigs, but anything that helps keep them away is helpful.
To use essential oils to get rid of earwigs, mix 15 drops of lavender, basil, peppermint, cinnamon, or clove oil with 4 ounces of water. Next, add the mixture to a spray bottle and spray it where the earwigs hide.
Strong-smelling essential oils may help discourage earwigs from treated areas. Research on earwigs is limited, but some gardeners find this method helpful.
This natural earwig repellent can be used indoors and outdoors.
4. Vinegar
White vinegar may help discourage earwigs from entering treated areas because of its strong smell. However, the effect is usually temporary.
To give it a try, combine equal parts white vinegar and water in a container. Use the solution to wipe down areas where earwigs might enter your home.
5. Vacuuming
Vacuum up the earwigs and their eggs, and discard them in a sealed bag. You can also dispose of them in a container of soapy water to suffocate and kill them.
6. Natural Predators
There are also a few natural predators of earwigs.
In some areas, tachinid flies lay their eggs on certain earwig species. The young flies develop inside the earwigs, eventually killing them.
Other natural predators include ground beetles, frogs, spiders, centipedes, and parasitic wasps.
7. Light Trap
Fill a large bowl with water and a few drops of dish soap. Then place it outside where earwigs are active at night.
Position a bright light over the container to attract earwigs. The light will attract them, and they will drown in the solution after falling in.
This method works best in dark areas away from other outdoor lights.
8. Oil and Soy Sauce Trap
For this bait-and-trap recipe, mix soy sauce and vegetable oil (50:50). Pour the solution into a container with a porous lid.
Next, bury the container in the ground, ensuring the lid is level with the soil.
Earwigs are attracted to the smell of the soy sauce mixture and will crawl in to get it. However, the oil makes it difficult for them to crawl back out.
9. Birds
Another natural way to help control earwigs is by attracting birds to your garden.
Birds that may eat earwigs include bluebirds, cardinals, chickadees, and wrens. Adding a birdbath or bird feeder can encourage them to visit.
10. Newspaper Trap
This method is a good use of old newspapers, as they make a nice trap for earwigs when they’re damp.
Roll up several sheets of newspaper, keeping them loose so pests can get into all the folds. Next, wet the newspapers enough to make them damp and place them around the garden at night.
Leave the newspaper out overnight. In the morning, shake the earwigs into a bucket of soapy water to kill them.
11. Boric Acid
Boric acid is another option that may help control earwigs indoors. It works by damaging insects upon contact or ingestion.
Lightly sprinkle boric acid powder in cracks and crevices. Also, apply it behind appliances and under sinks. These are the areas where earwigs often hide.
Avoid applying it directly on garden plants or in areas accessible to children and pets.
Use boric acid only as a light dust in cracks and other hiding places where earwigs travel. Reapply as needed if the area becomes damp.
Always use boric acid carefully and follow the product label directions.
12. Beer
You can also make a DIY earwig trap using beer.
Pour stale beer into a shallow container, then bury it so the rim is level with or just above the soil surface.
The smell of the beer will lure these pests in. They will then fall in and drown.
This beer trap also works well for slugs and snails.
13. Sticky Traps
Place duct tape (sticky side up) on cardboard strips and position them around plants. Earwigs may get stuck on it, especially during an infestation.
Replace the tape regularly if it becomes dirty or loses its stickiness. Alternatively, you can buy professional earwig traps like this tree wrap online.
14. Repellent Plants
Some gardeners believe strong-smelling plants such as garlic, peppermint, and wormwood may help discourage earwigs, but research is limited.
When possible, use these as companion plants in your garden.
Also, planting herbs and flowers like calendula, fennel, alyssum, and dill may attract tachinid flies, one of earwigs’ natural enemies.
15. Coffee Grounds
Sprinkle used coffee grounds around entry points where earwigs may enter. Some gardeners find this helps discourage earwigs, though evidence is limited.
16. Rubbing Alcohol
Another homemade earwig spray is a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water.
Just pour equal parts rubbing alcohol and water into a spray bottle, shake it up, and spray earwigs on non-plant surfaces.
It can kill earwigs on contact. However, test the spray on a small area first, and avoid spraying it directly on plants because rubbing alcohol can damage leaves.
17. Azera
Azera is an OMRI-listed insecticide that contains pyrethrins and azadirachtin. You can use this product on most fruit and vegetable crops.
Always follow the product label instructions when applying any pesticide.
Earwig Prevention Tips:
- Remove piles of leaves, mulch, and debris.
- Reduce excess moisture around plants.
- Seal cracks around doors and windows.
- Avoid overwatering.
- Thin dense ground cover near the home.
Takeaway
Whether you call them earwigs, pincher bugs, or scissor bugs, these insects can become a nuisance when their numbers grow too large.
Thankfully, these simple methods can help you get rid of earwigs organically without using harsh chemicals.
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