Noticing irregular holes and ragged edges on foliage can be the first sign of earwigs eating plants. These common garden insects are often misunderstood, and while they can be beneficial decomposers, they sometimes turn their attention to your prized flowers and vegetables. This guide will help you identify their damage, understand their role in the garden, and provide effective, step-by-step control methods.
Earwigs are easily recognized by the pincers, or cerci, at the end of their abdomen. They are nocturnal, hiding in dark, damp places during the day and emerging at night to feed. Their diet is varied, which is why they can be both a pest and a helper in your garden ecosystem.
Earwigs Eating Plants
When earwigs decide to feed on live plants, the damage has a distinct appearance. Unlike the clean holes left by many caterpillars, earwig damage is messier. You will often find small, ragged holes in leaves, petals, and even young seedlings. They are particularly fond of tender new growth.
They also consume soft fruits, like strawberries and apricots, leaving shallow pits. On corn, they may chew on the silks. The damage is rarely fatal to established plants, but it can be severe on seedlings and can ruin the appearance of ornamental flowers like dahlias, marigolds, and zinnias.
Identifying Earwig Damage Accurately
Since many pests cause holes in leaves, correct identification is key to proper control. Look for these specific signs that point to earwigs.
- Ragged Edges: Leaves look chewed or shredded, not cleanly cut.
- Night-Time Activity: Damage appears overnight; you rarely see the culprit during the day.
- Presence of Debris: Tiny black specks (their frass, or excrement) may be near the damaged areas.
- Hiding Spots: Check under pots, in mulch, within dense plant foliage, and in compost piles at dawn. You’ll likely find them congregated there.
Plants Most Vulnerable To Earwigs
Earwigs are opportunistic but do have favorites. They are especially attracted to certain plants, which can serve as an early warning system in your garden.
- Seedlings of all types (they are very vulnerable)
- Dahlias, chrysanthemums, and other tender flowers
- Lettuce, spinach, and other leafy greens
- Soft fruits: strawberries, raspberries, apricots
- Corn silks
- Basil and other herbs
Distinguishing Earwig Damage From Other Pests
It’s easy to confuse pest damage. Here’s a quick comparison.
- Slugs and Snails: Leave larger, irregular holes and a tell-tale slime trail.
- Caterpillars: Often leave larger, more rounded holes and you may find the caterpillar itself on the leaf.
- Japanese Beetles: Skeletonize leaves, eating the tissue between the veins.
- Earwigs: Create small, ragged holes, often starting at the edge of the leaf, with no slime trail.
The Beneficial Side Of Earwigs
Before declaring all-out war, consider that earwigs are also predatory. They consume a significant number of harmful insects and organic matter. This dual role makes them a complex garden inhabitant.
Their beneficial diet includes aphid colonies, mites, insect eggs, and decaying plant material. In many cases, especially in mature gardens, they cause minimal plant damage while providing free pest control. The goal is often management, not complete eradication, to maintain this balance.
Effective Control and Prevention Strategies
If earwig populations are high and damage is unacceptable, a multi-pronged approach works best. Start with the simplest, least toxic methods first.
Cultural And Physical Control Methods
These strategies make your garden less inviting to earwigs by removing their preferred habitat.
- Reduce Hiding Places: Clean up garden debris, loose boards, and excess mulch near susceptible plants.
- Manage Moisture: Fix leaky faucets and avoid overwatering. Earwigs thrive in damp conditions.
- Create a Dry Barrier: Sprinkle a line of diatomaceous earth or dry sand around plant bases. These abrasive materials deter earwigs.
- Use Traps: Simple, non-toxic traps are highly effective for monitoring and reducing numbers.
How to Make Effective Earwig Traps
Trapping is one of the most succesful ways to control earwigs. Here are two proven DIY methods.
The Rolled Newspaper Trap: Loosely roll up a section of newspaper, dampen it slightly, and secure it with a rubber band. Place these rolls in the garden near damaged plants in the evening. In the morning, shake the trapped earwigs into a bucket of soapy water.
The Oil Trap: Bury a small container, like a tuna can, up to its rim in the soil. Fill it with a half-inch of vegetable oil with a splash of soy sauce or fish oil for attractant. Earwigs will crawl in and drown. Empty and refill as needed.
Organic And Chemical Intervention
When cultural controls are not enough, you may need to consider targeted interventions. Always opt for the least toxic option that will solve the problem.
- Insecticidal Soap: Direct sprays at night when earwigs are active can help control young nymphs. It has low impact on beneficial insects.
- Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Food-grade DE can be dusted on soil and plant stems. It works by physically damaging the insect’s exoskeleton. Reapply after rain or watering.
- Botanical Insecticides: Products containing spinosad, derived from soil bacteria, can be effective if applied as a late-day spray. Always follow label instructions carefully.
- Perimeter Sprays: As a last resort, a residual insecticide applied to foundations, fences, and other harborage sites can reduce migration into garden beds. Use these products judiciously to protect pollinators.
Long-Term Garden Management
Preventing future large infestations is easier than controlling an existing one. A healthy, balanced garden ecosystem is your best defense.
Encouraging Natural Predators
Many common garden birds and animals eat earwigs. By making your garden friendly to these predators, you create natural population control.
- Install bird feeders and bird baths to attract songbirds like robins and starlings.
- Provide habitat for toads with a small, shady toad house or overturned clay pot.
- Allow ground beetles to thrive by leaving some areas of undisturbed soil or leaf litter.
Regular Monitoring And Maintenance
Incorporate earwig checks into your regular gardening routine. Catching a problem early makes management simple.
- Inspect susceptible plants weekly for the first signs of damage.
- Check traps regularly to monitor population levels.
- Remove excess mulch and debris from the base of plants in spring and fall.
- Keep the garden tidy, but remember that a completely sterile garden lacks natural checks and balances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Earwigs Dangerous To Humans Or Pets?
No, earwigs are not dangerous. Their pincers are used for defense and capturing prey, but they are not strong enough to break human skin in a meaningful way. The old myth about them crawling into ears is just that—a myth with no scientific basis.
What Is The Fastest Way To Get Rid Of Earwigs On Plants?
The fastest immediate reduction comes from using traps. Setting out several oil traps or rolled newspaper traps around affected areas overnight can remove dozens of earwigs quickly. Combine this with reducing their hiding spots for longer-term control.
Do Earwigs Kill Plants?
Earwigs rarely kill healthy, established plants. Their feeding is primarily cosmetic. However, they can destroy very young seedlings and severely damage the blooms of ornamental flowers. The threat to seedlings is the most serious concern for gardeners.
What Home Remedy Kills Earwigs?
A simple soapy water spray is an effective home remedy. Mix a few tablespoons of mild liquid dish soap with a gallon of water and spray it directly on earwigs you see at night. The soap breaks down their protective waxy coating. Traps, as described above, are also excellent home remedies.
Why Are There So Many Earwigs This Year?
Earwig populations fluctuate with weather conditions. Mild, wet springs and summers create ideal breeding conditions, leading to population booms. A lack of natural predators in the area can also contribute to higher numbers in your specific garden.
Managing earwigs in the garden is about observation and balance. By correctly identifying their damage, you can choose the most appropriate response. Remember that they play a beneficial role too. Start with simple traps and habitat modification. Often, that’s all that’s needed to protect your plants while maintaining a healthy, vibrant garden ecosystem where natural predators help keep everything in check.