What causes an infestation of earwigs?

Earwigs are brought into homes through potted plants, wet cardboard, and wet newspapers. They will also travel inside when the outside temperatures become too hot or cold for them and so they try to find suitable areas to inhabit.

How do you get rid of an infestation of earwigs?

Rubbing alcohol and water – Mix rubbing alcohol and water together to spray at earwigs onsite. This method can be used to kill earwigs immediately. Boric acid powder – Found at most hardware stores, boric acid is a treatment you can apply to those out of reach areas to kill earwigs that crawl near it.

What kills earwigs instantly?

Make an alcohol-based insecticide spray to kill earwigs for fast results. Pour equal parts of rubbing alcohol and water into a spray bottle. Spray earwigs directly as you see them. The alcohol can penetrate the earwig’s waxy coat of armour and kill it immediately.

Do earwigs kill bushes?

While earwigs won’t destroy your crops they can leave their mark. Here’s how they interact with typical garden plants: Seedlings – Tender seedlings of any kind can be targets for these insects. Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries – Earwigs will often chew holes in leaves and on their edges.

What does an earwig infestation look like?

What are the signs of an earwig infestation? The only way to really know that you have an earwigs infestation is to see the insects themselves within your home. Under rugs, potted plants and inside stacks of newspapers are all common areas where earwigs can be found.

What plants do earwigs hate?

They also like flowers such as dahlias (Dahlia spp., USDA zones 7 through 10), marigolds (Calendula officinalis, USDA zones 2 through 11) and zinnias (Zinnia spp., USDA zones 2 through 11). Plants that repel earwigs include turf and mature ornamental plants.

What month do earwigs come out?

spring
Earwig season typically takes place in late spring and early summer. In the colder, winter months, earwigs will stay underground until the ground begins to warm.

Are there plants that repel earwigs?

There are certain plants that repel earwig insects from your garden. These include garlic, bay leaves, peppermint, and wormwood. You can use these as companion plants or make pest-repellent concoctions out of them.

How do I get rid of earwigs eating my plants?

How to Get Rid of Earwigs

1. Lay one-foot sections of bamboo or garden hose in the beds between your plants.
2. Spread petroleum jelly around the stems of your plants.
3. If they are infesting your woodpile, try sprinkling borax around it, but keep pets and children away from this area after doing so.