As bad as earwigs look, they are not very serious as garden pests—and sometimes are more friend than foe. It’s true that common earwigs (Forficula auricularia) can feed on tender shoots and can occasionally make a holy mess of leaves and even flowers, but the amount of damage they cause shouldn’t present a major problem in most gardens. The repulsion some people feel about earwigs is more about their appearance than their behavior. In their favor, earwigs eat aphids, snails, slugs, and some types of insect larvae, so you might actually want them around. However, as with all uninvited creatures in a garden, there are times when earwigs can be considered a pest. When that happens, be patient and learn why earwigs are attracted to your garden. Controlling them is often just a matter of adjusting the environment.
5 Ways to Get Rid of Earwigs in the Garden
Dry Out the Garden
The first strategy to try—and often the only one necessary—is to clear the ground mulch from the area where they are congregating and to let the soil get a bit dry. You only have to do this temporarily, until the earwigs move on. Then you can replace the mulch to enjoy the benefits it brings to garden soil. Removing the mulch may also have the benefit of reducing slugs, snails, and similar pests, since they, too, thrive in moist debris covering the garden floor.
Use Homemade Traps
Place damp, rolled-up newspapers or small cardboard boxes (such as a cereal box) in the garden area in the evening. Earwigs feed at night and look for a damp, sheltered spot to spend the day. You can pick up quite a few in the newspaper the next morning. The Cooperative Extension System recommends baiting these traps with oatmeal or bran if you are having trouble attracting them into these homemade traps. Another method is to set out traps made with shallow cat food or tuna cans filled with a thin layer of vegetable oil. The insects will be attracted to the oil as a food source and you may be able to eliminate a large number on a daily basis.
Apply Sticky Barriers
Apply a sticky barrier, such as Tanglefoot, sticky tape, or even petroleum jelly at the base of woody plants. Earwigs are crawlers and will get stuck in the sticky mess before they can get up the tree or shrub to cause damage.
Apply Diatomaceous Earth
Apply diatomaceous earth (DE) to the soil to deter earwigs; reapply in one week, if necessary. Diatomaceous earth is a natural mineral that contains the powdered remnants of fossilized diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. DE works as a pesticide because the sharp powder penetrates the shell or skin of creatures such as earwigs, slugs, and snails, causing them to lose body moisture. It is a natural, non-chemical means of pest control that is preferred by organic gardeners.
Use Pesticides
As a last resort, outdoor insecticides labeled for crawling insects can be used, such as Diazinon. Follow the manufacturer’s direction carefully. Typically, it’s best to apply treatments in the evening, before feeding begins.
What Causes Earwigs in the Garden
Earwigs like damp, sheltered places, including mulched garden beds or areas under potted plants. These conditions, along with a supply of food, will tempt earwigs into your garden. However, since they are considered beneficial insects, they are only treated as pests when their damage becomes excessive. Earwigs commonly eat plant debris they find on a garden floor and under containers. They may also feed on a wide range of garden plants and seem to be especially fond of herbs and corn tassels as well as dahlias, marigolds, roses, and zinnias. They can also be a pest of fruits such as berries, apricots, and peaches. Unfortunately, if none of their favorites are available, earwigs may feed on whatever plants they can find. But earwigs are often considered beneficial insects and are sometimes deliberately introduced to control aphids and other damaging insects. Seeing only a few is more a cause for celebration than for panic. Garden earwigs require control only when the plant damage they do outweighs their benefits.
