Have you ever leaned in to smell a beautiful rose, only to have an earwig dart out of the bloom? Unpleasant, yes—but despite old myths about earwigs crawling into ears, these insects are far less sinister than their reputation suggests. Understanding their habits can help you decide whether they are a problem or a tolerable garden resident.
What Are Earwigs?
- Earwigs (Order Dermaptera) are nocturnal, moisture-loving insects
- They hide during the day in dark, tight, damp spaces, including:
- Under rocks, boards, and mulch
- In dense groundcovers or weeds
- Inside flowers or damaged fruit
- In irrigated gardens, they can remain active year-round
- During extreme heat, cold, or dryness, they may move indoors
Identification
- Adults are reddish-brown and about ¾ inch long
- Easily recognized by forceps-like pincers (cerci) at the tail end
- Most have wings but rarely fly
- Immature earwigs resemble adults but are smaller and wingless
- They rarely pinch and are harmless to people, though they may emit a foul-smelling fluid when disturbed
What Do They Eat?
Earwigs are opportunistic feeders, acting partly as recyclers:
- Beneficial foods:
- Aphids, mites, insect eggs, and decaying plant matter
- Problem foods:
- Tender plant shoots and seedlings
- Soft fruits, sweet corn
- Flowers such as zinnias, marigolds, and dahlias
Damage often looks like:
- Irregular holes or chewed leaf edges
- Missing leaves or stems on seedlings
Management Options
Control can be challenging, so tolerance is part of the decision.
- Reduce hiding places: remove debris, prune dense growth, control weeds
- Lower moisture: use drip irrigation instead of overhead watering
- Trap earwigs:
- Rolled newspapers, bamboo, or old hose placed in shade
- Shallow containers of oil or soapy water sunk into the soil
The Bottom Line
Earwigs can both help and harm. They pose no health risk, even in large numbers. Whether they’re “good” or “bad” depends on how much damage you’re willing to tolerate in exchange for their role as pest eaters and recyclers in your garden.