Earwigs look scary because of the pincers on their tails, but they are harmless to people. They hide in damp spots during the day, eat plants in your garden at night and can wander indoors when the weather turns hot, dry or wet. We treat the earwigs and the moisture and shelter that bring them in.
The earwig most often found in Illinois is the European earwig.
Earwigs do not crawl into people's ears to lay eggs or eat brains. That story is an old myth. The name comes from an old folk tale. Earwigs will sometimes pinch with their pincers if handled, which can be uncomfortable but is not dangerous.
They love moisture. Earwigs need damp places, and they thrive in mulch, leaf litter, wet soil and dense plants.
They hide near the house. Mulch against the foundation, stacks of wood, stones, flower pots and clutter give them cover close to the walls.
Weather pushes them in. During hot, dry spells, earwigs go looking for water and may move indoors. After heavy rain, flooded hiding spots can also send them into houses.
They are drawn to lights. Outdoor lights attract the insects that earwigs eat and can draw earwigs too.
In Downers Grove, homes with landscaped beds, mulch, window wells and mature plantings around the foundation provide the kind of shelter earwigs like.
Earwigs eat a mix of plants and other insects.
They cause damage in gardens when numbers are high, but they usually do not harm your house.
1. Inspection. We check the yard, foundation, window wells, and damp areas inside your home to find where earwigs live and enter.
2. Treat the outside. We treat the perimeter of your home, including the foundation, window wells, mulch beds and other places where earwigs gather.
3. Treat indoor problem areas. If earwigs are inside, we treat cracks, baseboards, corners and damp areas where they hide.
4. Reduce the reasons they are there. We point out moisture, mulch and clutter that need attention.
5. Follow up. We check the results and adjust the treatment if needed.
A simple garden trap: Roll up a damp newspaper or put a shallow tin with a little vegetable oil near the plants at dusk. Earwigs hide in it overnight, and you can dispose of them in the morning.
Earwig numbers build through spring and early summer and are usually highest in mid to late summer. Hot, dry weather sends earwigs looking for water, and heavy rain pushes them from their hiding places. In fall, females dig nests in the soil to lay eggs and guard them through winter.
We treat earwigs in homes and businesses throughout Downers Grove, including ZIP codes 60515 and 60516, and in nearby towns such as Lisle, Woodridge, Westmont and Darien. If you are close by, call us anyway.
No. They do not sting or spread disease. They can pinch if handled, but it is not serious.
No. This is a myth. Earwigs do not seek out human ears.
Damp mulch, leaf litter, stacked wood and clutter give earwigs places to breed and hide. Hot, dry or wet weather can also draw more of them to your home.
They can. In large numbers, they leave ragged holes in leaves and flowers and can harm seedlings and soft fruit. In small numbers, they also eat other insects, so they can be useful.
Remove damp hiding spots near the foundation, seal gaps around doors, windows and pipes, and reduce moisture in basements. An exterior treatment helps cut down how many get close to the house.
Most homes see fewer earwigs within a couple of weeks after treatment, though moisture and hiding spots need to be dealt with to keep numbers down.
Your technician follows the product label and tells you where products were applied and how long to keep children and pets away from treated areas.
Call (630) 555-0184 or request your free estimate. We will treat the earwigs and the damp spots that draw them in.