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 damage seedlings, flowers, soft fruits, and leafy vegetables. If that happens, there are several natural ways to reduce their numbers and protect your plants.
Earwigs (pincher bugs) fall into the insect order Dermaptera [1]. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, where conditions are too harsh for them to survive.
Earwigs are most active at night. During the day, they often hide in cool, dark, damp places, such as under mulch, boards, pots, and garden debris.
How to Tell if Earwigs Are Damaging Your Plants
Earwigs usually feed at night, so you may see the damage before you see the insects [2].
They can chew irregular holes in leaves and flowers. They may also feed on seedlings and soft fruits.
Check damaged plants after dark with a flashlight. You can also look underneath pots, boards, mulch, and other damp hiding places during the day.
However, holes in leaves do not always mean earwigs are responsible. Slugs, snails, caterpillars, beetles, and other pests can cause similar damage.
How to Get Rid of Earwigs (Pincher Bugs) Naturally
Below are some simple ways to get rid of earwigs organically in the garden, potted plants, and around the home.
1. Soapy Water
This simple home remedy helps control earwigs in the garden.
Mix 1 tablespoon of mild liquid soap with 1 quart of water. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray it directly on earwigs.
Avoid spraying sensitive plants unless you have tested the solution on a small area first.
This spray may kill earwigs on contact when it thoroughly covers them.
2. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Food-grade diatomaceous earth damages the protective outer layer of an earwig’s body. This causes it to lose moisture and dry out.
Sprinkle a thin layer of food-grade DE on dry soil around affected plants and other areas where you’ve seen earwigs.
Reapply after rain or watering because moisture reduces its effectiveness. Read more about how to use diatomaceous earth 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.
Avoid breathing in the dust when applying DE.
3. Bamboo Trap
Hollow bamboo can provide an attractive daytime hiding place for earwigs.
Cut short pieces of bamboo and place them horizontally near plants where earwigs are active. You can also bundle several pieces together.
Leave the bamboo in the garden overnight. Check it in the morning and shake any earwigs hiding inside into a bucket of soapy water.
Return the trap to the garden and check it regularly.
4. Flowerpot Trap
Place a small flowerpot upside down near plants where earwigs are causing damage.
Loosely fill the pot with straw or crumpled paper. Raise one edge slightly so earwigs can crawl underneath.
Place the trap in the evening and check it the next morning.
Earwigs may enter the dark shelter to hide during the day. Check the trap each morning and shake any earwigs you find into a bucket of soapy water.
5. Vacuuming
If earwigs get inside your home, vacuum them up. Empty the vacuum outdoors away from the house or dispose of the contents in a sealed bag.
6. Natural Predators
A few natural predators also prey on earwigs.
In some areas, tachinid flies lay their eggs on certain earwig species. The young flies develop inside the earwigs, eventually killing them.
Earwigs also become food for many garden animals, including birds, spiders, frogs, and some predatory insects. Encouraging a diverse garden can help keep pest populations in balance.
7. Remove Hiding Places
Earwigs like cool, dark, damp hiding places during the day. Remove unused boards, thick piles of leaves, garden debris, and other damp hiding places near plants where earwigs are causing damage.
Keep mulch a short distance away from the stems of young plants. This can make the area less inviting to earwigs.
8. Oil and Soy Sauce Trap
For this bait-and-trap recipe, mix equal parts soy sauce and vegetable oil in a small container.
Bury the container so the top is level with the soil. If needed, cover it with a lid that has openings large enough for earwigs to enter.
Earwigs may be attracted to the bait and crawl into the container. The oil then makes it difficult for them to escape.
Check the trap regularly and replace the mixture when it becomes dirty or filled with insects.
Place the trap where children and pets cannot disturb it.
9. Birds
Another natural way to help control earwigs is by attracting birds to your garden.
Some insect-eating birds may feed on earwigs and other garden insects. A birdbath, native shrubs, and other bird-friendly plants can encourage these natural predators to visit your garden.
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 loosely so earwigs can crawl between the folds. Dampen the newspaper, but do not soak it.
Put it near affected plants in the evening. Check it early the next morning before the earwigs leave their hiding place.
Shake any earwigs hiding inside into a bucket of soapy water.
11. Seal Entry Points
Earwigs sometimes enter homes through small gaps and cracks. Check around doors, windows, pipes, and the foundation.
Seal small openings with caulk or another suitable material. Repair damaged screens and weather stripping too. This helps keep earwigs and other crawling insects outside.
12. Protect Ripening Fruit
Earwigs may feed on soft, ripe, or damaged fruit.
Harvest ripe fruits promptly and remove fallen or damaged fruits from the ground.
Check fruits regularly for cracks or other damage that may give earwigs an easy place to feed.
This will not eliminate earwigs, but it can help protect ripening fruit and keep damaged fruit from attracting other pests.
13. Handpick Earwigs at Night
Earwigs are most active after dark, making this a good time to find them.
Take a flashlight into the garden and check plants that have fresh feeding damage.
Knock or brush the earwigs you find into a container of soapy water. Repeat this for several nights if earwig numbers are high.
14. Grow Plants for Beneficial Insects
Growing a variety of flowering plants can provide food and shelter for beneficial insects.
Small flowers, including sweet alyssum and dill flowers, can provide nectar for some beneficial insects.
A garden with many types of plants can support predators and parasitoids that help keep some pest populations in balance.
However, use beneficial plants along with other earwig-control methods when damage is serious.
15. Reduce Excess Moisture
Earwigs prefer damp places. Fix leaking hoses and faucets, and avoid watering more often than your plants need.
Water early in the day when possible. This gives the soil surface time to dry before night, when earwigs become active.
However, never allow plants to become too dry just to control earwigs. Give your plants the water they need.
16. Check Pots and Containers
Earwigs often hide under flowerpots and containers during the day. Lift pots and check underneath them regularly.
Remove any earwigs you find and clear away wet leaves or other debris around the pots.
17. Organic Insecticide
If other methods do not provide enough control, an insecticide approved for organic gardening may be another option.
Azera contains pyrethrins and azadirachtin, two insecticidal ingredients used to control many garden pests. Check the current product label to see if earwigs and the crop you want to treat are listed.
Follow all label directions and precautions carefully, including instructions for protecting bees and other pollinators.
How to Prevent Earwigs
Many of the control methods above can also help prevent future earwig problems. Here are the main steps to remember:
Remove hiding places. Clear away boards, piles of wet leaves, thick plant debris, and other damp hiding spots.
Avoid excess moisture. Do not overwater the garden. Fix leaking hoses and faucets.
Check mulch. Mulch is useful, but very thick, constantly damp mulch can give earwigs a place to hide.
Seal your home. Repair screens and seal gaps around doors, windows, pipes, and foundations.
Check pots and containers. Earwigs often hide underneath them during the day.
Protect seedlings. Young seedlings and tender new growth can be more vulnerable to earwig feeding than established plants.
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 reduce troublesome earwig populations and protect your plants without relying on harsh pest-control methods.
Remember that a few earwigs are not always a problem. They also eat aphids, insect eggs, and other small pests, so control is usually needed only when they begin causing noticeable plant damage.
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