What Do Earwigs Eat

If you’ve ever flipped over a damp log or a flower pot in your garden, you’ve probably asked yourself: what do earwigs eat? These little insects, with their intimidating pincers, are often misunderstood. The short answer is that earwigs feed primarily on decaying plant matter and small insects, though they occasionally damage tender seedlings.

Understanding their diet is the key to keeping them out of your home and protecting your garden. Let’s break down their eating habits in a simple, practical way.

Earwigs are not picky eaters. They are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. However, their preference leans heavily toward dead and decaying material. Think of them as the cleanup crew of your garden.

They use their forceps (those pincers) not for eating, but for defense and mating. Their actual mouthparts are designed for chewing, which makes them capable of handling a wide variety of food sources.

Primary Food Sources

Most of an earwig’s diet consists of things you probably wouldn’t miss. Here is a breakdown of what they eat most often:

Decaying Leaves: They love a good pile of dead leaves. This is their favorite hiding spot and meal.
Compost: If you have a compost bin, you have an earwig buffet. They help break down the organic matter.
Dead Insects: They are opportunistic scavengers. They will eat other dead bugs they find.
Soft Plant Material: They will eat rotting fruit that has fallen from trees, like apples or berries.
Fungi and Moss: In damp areas, they will graze on these as a food source.

This scavenging behavior is actually beneficial. By eating dead stuff, they recycle nutrients back into the soil. They are a vital part of the ecosystem, even if they look a bit scary.

Live Prey And Protein

While they prefer dead matter, earwigs are also predators. They will hunt and eat live insects if the opportunity arises. This makes them a friend to gardeners in many cases.

Their live prey includes:

Aphids: These are tiny sap-sucking bugs that destroy plants. Earwigs eat them in large numbers.
Mites: Another common garden pest that earwigs will consume.
Insect Eggs: They will eat the eggs of other insects, helping to control pest populations.
Small Caterpillars: They can take down young, soft-bodied caterpillars.

So, if you see an earwig in your garden, don’t immediately reach for the pesticide. It might be working for you, not against you.

When Earwigs Become Pests

Here is where the problem starts. While they prefer dead things, they will eat living plants when the population gets too large or when food is scarce. This is when they become a nuisance.

They are particularly fond of:

Tender Seedlings: Newly sprouted plants are soft and easy to chew. Earwigs can wipe out a whole row of young lettuce or beans overnight.
Soft Fruits: They will eat strawberries, raspberries, and other soft-skinned fruits that are close to the ground.
Corn Silks: They can interfere with corn pollination by eating the silks.
Flower Petals: They love the petals of marigolds, zinnias, and dahlias, especially in the evening.

The damage they cause looks like irregular holes in the leaves. You might notice this damage in the morning, as earwigs are nocturnal feeders. They hide during the day in cool, dark places.

Feeding Habits And Behavior

Earwigs are mostly active at night. This is when they come out to forage for food. During the day, they seek out moist, dark hiding spots to avoid drying out.

You will often find them in:

Under rocks and logs
Inside mulch or leaf litter
In cracks and crevices of walls
Under potted plants
Inside damp cardboard or newspapers

They are social insects, unlike many other bugs. You will often find them gathered in large groups in these hiding spots. This is why you might see a sudden swarm of them when you move a rock.

How To Manage Earwigs In Your Garden

If earwigs are damaging your plants, you don’t need to resort to harsh chemicals. There are several effective, natural ways to manage them. The goal is not to eliminate them entirely, but to reduce their numbers to a tolerable level.

Here are some practical steps you can take:

Remove Hiding Spots: Clean up piles of leaves, wood, and debris from around your garden. This removes their daytime shelters.
Create a Trap: This is the most effective method. Take a shallow container, like a tuna can, and fill it with vegetable oil or soy sauce. Bury it in the soil so the rim is level with the ground. Earwigs will crawl in and drown.
Use a Newspaper Trap: Roll up a damp newspaper and leave it in the garden overnight. In the morning, shake the earwigs that have gathered inside into a bucket of soapy water.
Water in the Morning: Water your plants in the morning instead of the evening. This allows the soil surface to dry out by night, making it less attractive to earwigs.
Create a Barrier: Apply a band of diatomaceous earth or petroleum jelly around the stems of valuable plants. This creates a physical barrier they cannot cross.
Encourage Natural Predators: Birds, toads, and some beetles eat earwigs. Encouraging these animals to visit your garden can help keep the population down.

By using these traps, you can significantly reduce the damage they cause. The oil trap is particularly effective because they are attracted to the smell.

Earwigs Inside The House

Earwigs don’t typically live indoors. They usually end up inside by accident, often hitchhiking on firewood or potted plants. Once inside, they are looking for the same things: moisture and food.

They will eat crumbs, dead insects, and even houseplants. However, they cannot survive long in the dry environment of a home. They will eventually die or leave.

To prevent them from coming in, you should:

Seal cracks around doors and windows.
Fix leaky faucets and pipes to reduce moisture.
Keep firewood stored away from the house.
Vacuum up any you find inside.

They are harmless to humans and pets. They won’t sting, and they rarely bite. Their pincers are not strong enough to break human skin, so there is no need to be afraid of them.

Seasonal Diet Changes

An earwig’s diet changes with the seasons. In the spring, they feed heavily on new growth and insects. In the summer, they switch to fruits and flowers. In the fall, they focus on decaying leaves and organic matter to build up fat stores for the winter.

During the winter, they go into a state of dormancy. They burrow deep into the soil to survive the cold. They do not eat during this time, living off the energy reserves they stored in the fall.

This is why you see them so active in the early fall. They are frantically trying to eat as much as possible before the frost hits.

Common Myths About Earwigs

There are many myths about earwigs, especially regarding their diet. The most famous one is that they crawl into people’s ears to eat their brains. This is completely false. Earwigs have no interest in entering human ears. They prefer the damp, dark soil of the garden.

Another myth is that they are dangerous pests that destroy gardens. While they can cause damage, they are mostly beneficial. They eat more pest insects than they do plants in most cases.

Understanding their true diet helps you appreciate their role in the ecosystem. They are not the monsters that folklore makes them out to be.

Final Thoughts On Their Diet

So, to recap, earwigs are scavengers and predators. They eat a mix of dead plants, live insects, and sometimes living plants. They are a vital part of the garden ecosystem, helping to break down waste and control pest populations.

The key to managing them is to make your garden less hospitable. Remove their hiding spots and use traps if they become a problem. With a little effort, you can coexist with these fascinating creatures without them destroying your prized plants.

Remember, seeing an earwig isn’t a reason to panic. It’s just a sign that you have a healthy, active ecosystem in your backyard. They are doing their part to keep the cycle of life going.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions people have about the eating habits of these insects.

Do Earwigs Eat Wood?

No, earwigs do not eat wood. They might hide in rotting wood, but they are eating the soft, decaying plant matter and insects found there, not the wood itself. They lack the enzymes needed to digest cellulose.

Are Earwigs Harmful To Humans?

No, earwigs are not harmful to humans. They do not carry diseases, and they do not bite. They might pinch you with their pincers if they feel threatened, but it is a minor pinch that rarely breaks the skin.

What Attracts Earwigs To My Garden?

Earwigs are attracted to moisture and food. Damp, shady areas with lots of mulch, leaf litter, or compost are very appealing to them. They are also drawn to lights at night, which can bring them close to your house.

Will Earwigs Eat My Vegetable Plants?

Yes, they can eat vegetable plants, especially seedlings and soft fruits. They are particularly fond of lettuce, strawberries, and beans. However, they usually prefer decaying matter, so they only turn to living plants when populations are high or other food is scarce.

How Can I Get Rid Of Earwigs Naturally?

The best natural method is to use a trap. A shallow dish of vegetable oil or soy sauce buried in the soil works very well. You can also use a rolled-up damp newspaper as a trap and dispose of them in the morning.

By understanding their dietary needs, you can better manage their presence and keep your garden healthy.