In July and August earwigs are everywhere: under the mulch, in patio cushions, inside the newspaper folded on the porch, and sometimes in the kitchen or bathroom. Their pincers look alarming, but they are harmless. Seeing them indoors mostly means there are a lot of them right outside, up against the foundation. That is where to act.
How to recognize them
- Size: 1.5 to 2 cm.
- Body: long, flat, shiny reddish brown.
- Pincers at the tip of the abdomen: curved in males, nearly straight in females.
- Behaviour: nocturnal, avoids light, seeks dark, tight, damp crevices.
The species found everywhere in Quebec is the European earwig, which arrived in North America more than a century ago.
Are they dangerous?
No. Health Canada says they are not directly harmful to humans. They may pinch if you grab them, without any real harm. And no, they don’t crawl into ears: the name comes from an old superstition.
In the garden they are both useful and a nuisance: they eat aphids and decaying matter, but also young shoots, lettuce, dahlias and ripe fruit.
Why they come inside
Health Canada calls them “accidental invaders.” They aren’t looking for your house; they are looking for moisture and shade, and the house sits right against their habitat:
- mulch, leaves and flower beds against the foundation;
- gutters that overflow or downspouts emptying at the base of the wall;
- leaking outdoor taps;
- wood, pots, bins and other things stacked against the house;
- heat waves or heavy rain, which push them to look for shelter.
They come in under doors, through basement windows and foundation cracks. Indoors the air is too dry for them: they don’t breed there.
Traps that work
The traps Health Canada describes play on their need for tight spaces:
- Rolled corrugated cardboard or rolled damp newspaper, held with an elastic, stood upright in the evening near the foundation or flower beds. In the morning, shake it out into soapy water.
- An upside-down flower pot stuffed with straw or damp newspaper.
- A small container sunk level with the ground with a little oil (fish oil draws them most) or soapy water.
Set every evening for one to two weeks, these traps clearly cut the population around the house.
Cut off the source
- Clear a dry strip at least 30 cm wide between flower beds and the foundation: gravel rather than mulch.
- Extend downspouts to move water away from the wall; clean the gutters.
- Fix leaking outdoor taps and garden hoses.
- Store wood, pots and cushions away from the wall.
- Install door sweeps and seal foundation cracks.
- Check cut flowers and garden produce before bringing them in.
Insecticides
Health Canada recommends treating outside, where they live: foundations, fences, hedges, woodpiles, under shrubs. Baits must not be used indoors and must be kept away from children and pets. Indoors, a vacuum is enough.
If you find them every day despite these steps, a perimeter exterior treatment in early summer targets the young before they reach the house. It is part of our home protection plan.
When to call
- You see dozens indoors every day.
- They come in somewhere you can’t find.
- There are also sowbugs or house centipedes: often a sign of significant moisture near the foundation.
For an assessment, contact us or call 514-638-8705. The estimate is free.
Not sure what you found? Our guide to bugs in the house in Quebec helps you identify it by where and when you see it.
Frequently asked questions
Can earwigs lay eggs inside the house?
Rarely. The female lays her eggs in the soil, outdoors, and guards them. The air in the house is too dry for them.
Why do they turn up in beds and towels?
They look for dark, tight folds. A damp towel or bedding near an open window suits them perfectly.
Should I treat the whole yard?
No. The work is done around the foundation and damp areas. The rest of the yard can keep its earwigs.