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Earwigs don’t really crawl in your ears and eat your brains – that’s just an old wives tale. So what are earwigs? They certainly are evil looking little beasties. Are they helpful or harmful? If harmful, how to kill earwigs and prevent their return is the question to ask.
Earwigs are a relative of the cockroach. There are about 22 species of earwigs in the US. Some are winged and some are not. They have flat brown or black bodies and are ½” to an inch in length with pincers on the tail section. They are not dangerous to humans although they can and do bite on occasion. They actually provide some benefit to the gardener as they eat slugs, aphids, and other bothersome pests. However, they are opportunistic eaters and if they cannot find insects they will eat tender young ornamental plants and food crops. They are nocturnal, like moisture, and will flourish in damp areas like rain gutters and under fallen logs or brush piles. As a general rule, they will only invade your home if they are looking for food, or simply by accident – as they like to crawl into the cracks and crevices of a damp foundation.
If earwigs have invaded, there are a couple of different ways on how to kill earwigs. The first and most common way to kill earwigs is to mix up a solution of soapy water and spray where you have seen earwigs congregate. Concentrate on damp areas around your foundation and yard. There are also two different ways on how to kill earwigs using an earwig trap you can construct at home. Roll newspaper into a loose coil and tie into place. Wet the roll thoroughly with water and leave them where you have seen earwigs in the past. Earwigs love cool, damp places and will crawl into the center of the newspaper overnight. In the morning, simply pick up the newspaper traps; seal tightly in a plastic bag and discard. Finally, you can take an empty, low-sided can (like a tuna can), fill with about ½” of vegetable oil, add a squirt of honey, and place near the earwig habitats. They will be lured to the honey, crawl into the can, be unable to get back out, and drown in the vegetable oil. In the morning, simply discard the carcasses in a tightly sealed plastic bag.
Once you have killed the earwigs, take steps to prevent their return. Clean up the moist damp areas around your house and yard. Ensure downspouts direct water away from your foundation. Remove any mulch or leaves that are piled up in or near your foundation. Seal cracks around windows and doors. Periodically, move your patio furniture and potted plants around so that the areas underneath them dry out and don’t become earwig homes. Install a birdbath and bird feeder in your backyard. The birds you attract will repay you by dining on earwigs and other garden pests.
Earwigs, in small numbers, can actually help keep your yard free of aphids, mites, and slugs. An earwig infestation, however, can damage your garden and landscape plants. And let’s face it; those little buggers are creepy looking. It is pretty easy to kill earwigs using only non-chemical, household products. Once you’ve known how to kill earwigs and gotten rid of them, a little home and garden maintenance will prevent the reoccurrence of an infestation.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about Pest and Disease and organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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