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Earwig control
Pincers under every flowerpot and one in the kitchen sink at night. Treated where they hide and stopped at the door.
Quick answers
Earwig control in Central Texas: the quick facts
Earwigs are flattened, brown to black insects up to an inch long with pincers at the tail. They hide by day under stones, pots, mulch and debris and come out at night. They are not harmful to people, but they come indoors when it gets too hot and dry outside. Earwigs are covered on the general pest plan from $66 a month.
- The tell
- Tail pincers
- Curved forceps at the back end, bigger and more curved on males.
- Active
- At night
- They hide under stones, pots and mulch by day.
- Risk
- Not harmful
- The pincers look worse than they are.
- Included in
- The $66/mo plan
- Earwigs are on the general pest plan.
Written by the Bastion Pest Control service team · Licensed & insured in Texas · Last updated
Earwigs in Central Texas.
Earwigs are flattened, brown to black insects up to an inch long, with a pair of forceps at the tail that are bigger and more curved on males. Some have wings folded under short wing covers, but they rarely fly. They hide in the day under rocks, bark and plant debris and come out at night to feed on insects, decaying plants, mosses and fungi, and indoors on sweet, oily and greasy foods (Texas A&M AgriLife).
Most of the time they stay outside, in the mulch, under the pots and in the damp soil against the foundation. When it gets too dry, too hot or too cold outdoors, some come inside (UC IPM), and around Austin that usually means the dry middle of summer. Treat the hiding spots near the house and close the gaps, and they stay in the garden.
Seasonal pattern
When are earwigs worst in Austin?
Earwigs build up through the warm months and are easiest to find in summer. When the yard dries out in July and August, more of them head for the damp spots against the house and slip inside.
- Summer
- Hot and dry
- Dry weather sends them to damp spots by the house and indoors.
- Generations
- One to two a year
- Numbers build through the warm months.
- Winter
- Eggs in the soil
- Females guard egg chambers dug in the ground.
Warning signs
Pincers under the pots.
Earwigs scattering when you lift a flowerpot, stone or doormat
One in the sink, the tub or on the kitchen floor at night
Ragged holes in flower petals, seedlings and soft fruit
Clusters in damp mulch packed against the foundation
Sweep or vacuum the ones inside, they will not hurt you. Then call us at 843-480-8699 and tell us where you find them, inside and out.
How we get rid of earwigs.
Inspect
We look where they hide by day: under stones, pots and doormats, in damp mulch and along the foundation.
Treat
Bait and a treatment band in the damp beds and along the foundation, where they come out at night.
Doorways
A treatment band along the door thresholds and the base of the wall, where they wander in at night.
How to tell it is actually earwigs.
The pincers make earwigs easy to name. Where you find them tells you how close to the house they are living.
Lift a pot that sits on damp concrete and this is the usual find. The cool, wet ring underneath is exactly what they want.
Indoors they go for damp places and sweet, oily food. One in the sink at night usually walked in under a door.
Ragged holes in petals and soft leaves, with the earwig hiding in the flower. They eat both plants and other small insects.
Know your pest
The earwigs you might find in Central Texas.
Texas A&M lists several earwigs in Texas. These three are the ones most likely to turn up around Austin homes.
Not sure what you have got? Text a photo to 843-480-8699 and we will tell you.
Pest-Free Guarantee
They come back? So do we, free.
Free re-treatments between scheduled visits on any recurring plan.
What it costs
Earwig control is included in the general pest plan.
Earwigs ride on the recurring general pest plan at no extra charge. The damp beds and the foundation get treated, and if they show up between visits, the re-treatment is free.
| General pest planRecurring | One-time treatmentSingle visit | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is for | Keeping earwigs and the other pests down year-round | Clearing one summer wave |
| Right for you if | They show up indoors every summer | You want one cleanup before guests |
| What you get | Full TriBarrier™ every visit, foundation, yard and property line | One full TriBarrier™ treatment |
| If they come back | We re-treat free, with no limit and no trip fee | A return visit is a new charge |
| Other pests covered | Ants, spiders, cockroaches, scorpions, wasps and rodents | Earwigs only |
| Price | From $66 a month* | Quoted per job* |
Earwigs live in the damp spots right against the house. Treating those spots on a schedule, and keeping mulch, pots and stones from piling up at the foundation, is what keeps them outside.
* Starting price. Your exact number depends on home size, lot size and current pest pressure.
Earwig Control, answered straight.
Do earwigs pinch or hurt people?
UC IPM says that while their tail-end pincers might look ferocious, earwigs are not harmful to people, and Texas A&M calls them generally harmless. They use the pincers for defense and against other earwigs. They do not carry disease.
Why are earwigs coming into my house?
Usually the weather. UC IPM says earwigs come indoors when conditions outside are too dry, too hot or too cold, and around Austin that usually means the dry heat of midsummer. They walk in under doors and through gaps from the damp beds and pots right against the house, so the more hiding places at the foundation, the more end up inside.
Where do earwigs hide?
In dark, damp places by day: under rocks, bark, flowerpots, doormats and boards, in mulch and plant debris, and in the soil against the foundation. They come out at night to feed. Lift a pot on a damp patio in summer and you will often find several.
Do earwigs damage plants?
They can. Earwigs eat both small insects and plant material, and in gardens they chew ragged holes in flower petals, seedlings and soft fruit. They also eat other small insects, so a few in the garden are not all bad. Near the house is where they become a problem.
How do I get rid of earwigs myself?
Take away the hiding places near the house. Pull mulch, stones, pots and debris back from the foundation, fix leaks and overwatering, and seal gaps under doors. UC IPM suggests simple traps, like a rolled-up damp newspaper set out in the evening, then shaken into soapy water in the morning. Sweep or vacuum the ones inside.
Does the $66 monthly pest plan cover earwigs?
Yes. Earwigs are on the recurring general pest plan from $66 a month at no extra charge, along with ants, spiders, cockroaches, scorpions, wasps and rodents. If they show up between visits, the re-treatment is free.
More questions? Read the full FAQ or get a free quote.
Other pests we treat
One recurring plan covers the everyday pests, add-ons cover the rest, and termites are their own job.
Every plan includes the full TriBarrier™ treatment. See all services →
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