Earwigs hide in moist dark places during the day and emerge at night to chew irregular holes in your plants’ leaves. If you are noticing ragged edges and silvery trails on your garden foliage, you might be dealing with earwigs eating plants after dark. These pests are often misunderstood, but their feeding habits can cause real damage to seedlings, soft fruits, and ornamental flowers.
Before you panic, know that earwigs are not the worst garden villains. They also eat aphids and other small insects. But when their population spikes, they become a serious problem for your prized hostas, dahlias, and even corn silk. Let’s look at how to identify, control, and prevent these nighttime nibblers.
Identifying Earwig Damage On Your Garden Plants
Earwigs are nocturnal feeders. You will rarely see them during the day unless you disturb their hiding spots. The damage they cause is very distinct once you know what to look for.
Irregular Holes And Ragged Leaf Edges
Unlike caterpillars that eat from the leaf edge inward, earwigs chew irregular, jagged holes in the middle of leaves and along the margins. The damage often looks like someone took a dull puncher to the foliage. You will also notice that the holes are not smooth; they have a rough, torn appearance.
Check the underside of leaves for small, dark specks of frass (insect droppings). This is a strong indicator that earwigs are active. They also feed on the soft petals of flowers, especially marigolds, zinnias, and roses, leaving them looking tattered and unsightly.
Silvery Scarring And Soft Fruit Damage
Earwigs leave a distinctive silvery sheen on the surface of leaves where they have scraped off the top layer of tissue. This is different from slug damage, which leaves a slimy trail. Earwigs do not leave mucus trails. They will also bore into ripening soft fruits like strawberries, apricots, and peaches, causing deep, hollowed-out cavities.
If you see these symptoms, confirm the culprit by going out at night with a flashlight. Shine the light on the affected plants about two hours after sunset. You will likely see the earwigs actively feeding or scurrying away.
Earwigs Eating Plants: Why They Are In Your Garden
Earwigs are attracted to cool, damp, and dark environments. Your garden provides the perfect habitat if you have mulch, leaf litter, or dense ground cover. They are also drawn to areas with high humidity, such as under potted plants or inside compost piles.
During the day, they squeeze into any tight crack or crevice. This includes under loose bark, inside hollow stems, and within rolled-up leaves. At night, they venture out to feed on decaying organic matter and living plant tissue. If you have a lot of debris, you are essentially rolling out the red carpet for them.
They also reproduce quickly. A single female can lay up to 50 eggs in a underground burrow. She will guard these eggs and the young nymphs until they are old enough to fend for themselves. This maternal care means populations can explode rapidly if left unchecked.
Plants Earwigs Love The Most
While earwigs are generalists, they have strong preferences. Knowing what they love can help you monitor high-risk areas first.
- Dahlias and marigolds
- Hosta and lettuce
- Strawberries and raspberries
- Celery and carrots
- Sweet corn (they eat the silk)
- Basil and other tender herbs
If you have these plants, check them regularly. Young seedlings are especially vulnerable. Earwigs can decimate an entire tray of transplants in one night, cutting them off at the soil line.
Effective Methods To Stop Earwigs From Eating Plants
You do not need harsh chemicals to control earwigs. A combination of trapping, habitat modification, and natural barriers works best. Start with the least invasive methods and escalate only if needed.
Set Up Simple And Effective Traps
Trapping is the most reliable way to reduce earwig numbers quickly. They are easy to make with household items. The key is to place them out before dusk and empty them in the morning.
- Rolled newspaper trap: Dampen a newspaper, roll it tightly, and secure it with a rubber band. Place it near damaged plants before sunset. In the morning, shake the earwigs into a bucket of soapy water.
- Cardboard trap: Lay a piece of corrugated cardboard flat on the soil. Earwigs will hide in the corrugations during the day. Check and dispose of them daily.
- Oil pit trap: Fill a small tuna can with vegetable oil and a few drops of soy sauce. Sink it into the soil so the rim is level with the ground. Earwigs will crawl in and drown. Empty and refill as needed.
- Bamboo stake trap: Place hollow bamboo stakes upside down in the soil. Earwigs will crawl inside to hide. Tap them out into soapy water each morning.
Consistency is critical. You must empty the traps every day for at least two weeks to break the breeding cycle. If you skip a day, the population can rebound.
Create Physical Barriers Around Vulnerable Plants
Barriers are excellent for protecting specific high-value plants. They work by preventing earwigs from climbing up the stems or reaching the foliage.
- Wrap a 2-inch strip of petroleum jelly around the base of plant stems. Earwigs cannot crawl over the sticky surface.
- Use double-sided sticky tape on the stems of dahlias or roses.
- Place a ring of diatomaceous earth around the base of plants. This sharp powder cuts their exoskeleton and dehydrates them. Reapply after watering.
- Cover young seedlings with floating row cover. This lightweight fabric allows light and water in but keeps pests out.
Remember that barriers only work if they are properly maintained. Check them weekly for gaps or debris that might create a bridge for the earwigs.
Natural Predators And Biological Controls
Encouraging natural predators is a long-term solution that requires less effort from you. Earwigs have several enemies that will happily keep their numbers in check.
Toads, birds, and ground beetles are voracious earwig hunters. Create a garden that welcomes these creatures. A shallow water source for birds and a log pile for toads will help. Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides, as these kill the beneficial predators along with the earwigs.
You can also introduce parasitic nematodes to your soil. These microscopic worms seek out earwig larvae and pupae in the soil and kill them. They are safe for plants, pets, and humans. Apply them in the evening when the soil is moist and cool.
Reduce Hiding Spots And Moisture
Earwigs need moisture to survive. If you remove their hiding spots and reduce humidity, they will move elsewhere. This is a preventive measure that yields long-term results.
- Move mulch away from the base of susceptible plants.
- Clear away leaf litter, grass clippings, and garden debris regularly.
- Trim back dense ground cover and low-hanging branches.
- Water your plants in the morning so the soil surface dries out by nightfall.
- Elevate potted plants off the ground to prevent earwigs from hiding underneath.
- Fix leaky outdoor faucets and ensure proper drainage.
Creating a dry, tidy garden environment makes it less inviting. Earwigs will seek out more hospitable areas, like your neighbor’s compost pile.
When To Use Chemical Or Commercial Solutions
If you have a severe infestation that traps and barriers cannot control, you may need to consider stronger options. Always use these as a last resort and follow the label instructions exactly.
There are several effective insecticidal sprays and dusts labeled for earwig control. Look for products containing spinosad or pyrethrin. These are derived from natural sources and break down quickly in the environment. Apply them in the evening when earwigs are active and bees are not foraging.
You can also use granular baits. These are mixed with a food attractant and a slow-acting poison. Earwigs consume the bait and carry it back to their hiding spots, where it kills them and others. Place the bait in areas where you have seen earwig activity, but keep it away from pets and children.
One note of caution: do not spray the entire garden indiscriminately. Spot-treat only the areas with active damage. This minimizes harm to beneficial insects and reduces the risk of creating pesticide-resistant earwig populations.
Preventing Earwigs From Returning Next Season
Prevention is always better than cure. By making a few changes to your gardening routine, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of earwigs eating plants next year.
Start by cleaning up your garden thoroughly in the fall. Remove all dead plant material, fallen fruit, and weeds. Till the soil lightly to expose any earwig eggs or pupae to the cold and to predators. This simple act can destroy a large portion of the overwintering population.
In the spring, delay mulching until the soil has warmed up and dried out. This gives you a head start on the earwig breeding cycle. If you use compost, make sure it is fully decomposed and not too moist.
Consider planting a “trap crop” away from your main garden. A row of marigolds or zinnias planted at the edge of your property will attract earwigs. You can then treat this sacrificial row with traps or pesticides, keeping the main garden safe.
Monitoring Your Garden Regularly
Make earwig checks a part of your weekly garden routine. Spend five minutes after dark inspecting the undersides of leaves and the centers of plants. Early detection makes control much easier.
Keep a small spray bottle of soapy water handy. If you spot an earwig, a quick spray will kill it instantly. This is a simple, targeted way to reduce numbers without affecting anything else. Also, keep a record of when you first see damage each year. This helps you know when to set out traps proactively next season.
Frequently Asked Questions About Earwigs And Plant Damage
Here are quick answers to common questions about dealing with these pests.
Do earwigs eat the roots of plants?
Earwigs primarily feed on above-ground plant parts like leaves, flowers, and fruits. They rarely damage roots. However, they may tunnel into the soil to reach decaying organic matter or to lay eggs, but this does not harm the plant’s root system.
Are earwigs harmful to humans or pets?
Earwigs are not poisonous and do not transmit diseases. They can give a small pinch with their forceps if threatened, but it is rarely painful and does not break the skin. They are more of a nuisance than a danger to people or pets.
Will earwigs eat my vegetable seedlings?
Yes, earwigs are particularly damaging to young, tender seedlings. They can cut them off at the soil line or consume the cotyledons (the first leaves) overnight. Protecting seedlings with a barrier or trap is essential in the first few weeks after transplanting.
Can I use beer to trap earwigs like I do for slugs?
Beer traps are more effective for slugs than earwigs. Earwigs are attracted to vegetable oil and fish oil. A mixture of soy sauce and oil in a shallow container works much better than beer for catching earwigs.
Why are earwigs inside my house?
Earwigs enter homes accidentally while seeking moisture or cooler temperatures during hot, dry weather. They are often found in basements, bathrooms, or kitchens. Sealing cracks around doors and windows and reducing indoor humidity will help keep them out.
Dealing with earwigs eating plants requires a consistent, multi-pronged approach. Start with traps and habitat cleanup, and only escalate to chemical controls if the damage becomes unbearable. With a little effort, you can protect your garden and keep these nocturnal pests at bay.
Remember to check your plants regularly and act at the first sign of trouble. The earlier you intervene, the less damage they will cause. Your garden can thrive again without these ragged-edge culprits ruining your hard work.