Earwig Pest Control Services on Cape Cod & Plymouth County

While earwigs are generally harmless to people, pets, and a house’s infrastructure, their frightening appearance can make them seem more formidable than they truly are. Earwigs cause damage to house plants and garden vegetation, are generally disturbing to homeowners, and produce a foul-smelling yellow liquid that is very unpleasant.

Earwig Prevention Tips

Sweeping up leaves and debris from around the perimeter of the house will help discourage earwigs from taking refuge in the piles.

Pruning the branches of shrubs and other low-lying plants is effective, and keeping the areas immediately surrounding flowers and vegetables free from dense patches of weeds reduce the possibility of an infestation. Gardeners should harvest fruits and vegetables promptly and avoid letting crops become overly ripe and soft.

Monthly house cleaning can also help, as keeping areas clean and organized will prevent earwigs from getting too comfortable.

As the weather becomes warm, earwigs are more likely to move into indoors because, in your home, they can find food, warmth, and shelter. It is also nearly impossible to keep them out because they can crawl into homes through very small cracks. However,  earwigs do prefer the outdoors when it is wet with moisture coming from mulch, decaying leaves, and rotting logs and stumps. Only when the weather gets dry, they are likely to be found in bathrooms, basements, and kitchens.