Earwigs are a common pest among flower beds and gardens. They feed on decomposing plants and leaves, which are more frequent during certain months of the year. They may even get into your house if you are not careful about prevention. An earwig invasion can result in ruined items in your home, infested food stuffs, and even infections of certain areas throughout the house. If earwigs are a concern of yours, the following methods can help you keep them out of your home and prevent them from spreading around your property.
Seal Any Openings
Being small little creatures, earwigs can slip through tiny openings in your doors, walls, and windows. Go over your house thoroughly, inspecting screens for any holes, walls for any cracks, and frames for any stray openings. Seal off anything that looks suspicious and fix any holes you come across. Eliminating the way in can go a long way in preventing an earwig invasion. If they do not have easy access, they will search for it elsewhere.
Address Any Lingering Moisture
A typical earwig enjoys the damp climate of the Pacific Northwest, but may seek warmth and shelter inside your home as night approaches. As they are attracted to moisture as a water source, eliminating any sign of dampness within your home can help prevent earwigs from spreading. If you do have any lingering moisture spots within the home, especially within kitchen cabinets or cupboards, earwigs are a lot more likely to get in and stay there.
Fix Your Lighting
Most hardware stores have some sort of bug light available. Earwigs, like most other bugs, are attracted to bright lights and will be drawn to your home if the porch has a lot of bright light bathing it. Bug lights release light that is more dull. It will not attract as many insects to it, leading them to find shelter and safety elsewhere.
Trim Plants
Earwigs may find an easy way into your home if any of your plants are touching your house or are at least very close to it. While they are feeding on the leaves, they will find an easy bridge to cross right into your home. Make sure any plants you own are planted a safe distance from the sides of your house, and trim them up if they are starting to branch out and grow closer. It may also be wise to use gravel around your foundation as a preventative measure. Earwigs will then find it more difficult to get through and will not be able to get inside.