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Occasional Invaders

Earwigs

Forficula auricularia

Danger Level: 1/5Updated September 2026 · Boise, ID

IdentificationHow to Identify Earwigs

Quick Answer

Earwigs are easy to spot once you've seen one. Long, flat, reddish-brown bodies (about half an inch to an inch) with a pair of curved pincers at the tail.

Full identification notes

The pincers look menacing, but they're mostly for defense and mating. Earwigs have wings folded under short covers but almost never fly.

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Earwigs Behavior & Habits

Understanding how earwigs behave helps prevent infestations

Earwigs are nocturnal.

More about their habits

They hide in dark, damp spots all day and forage after sundown. They slip into homes through door gaps, weep holes, and foundation cracks when the yard dries out or the heat spikes. They're omnivores, eating plants, soft-bodied bugs, and decaying mulch. And no, they don't crawl into ears. That's a myth.

Earwigs Risks & Dangers

What earwigs can do to your health and property

Health Risks

Earwigs aren't dangerous.

Property Damage

Indoors, earwigs don't damage anything structural.

Full health and property details

Health Risks

The pincers look scary but rarely break skin, and they don't bite or spread disease. The "crawls into your ear" story is a folk tale, not a fact.

Property Damage

Outside, they can chew seedlings, hostas, marigolds, and ripening fruit, which is why Boise gardeners notice them first in the vegetable beds.

Signs of Earwigs Infestation

Look for these indicators in your home

Signs You Have Earwigs

What homeowners spot first

  1. Long, flat bugs with rear pincers showing up in bathrooms, basements, or laundry rooms
  2. Dozens of earwigs clustered under doormats, potted plants, or stepping stones
  3. Chewed edges on seedlings, marigolds, hostas, or ripening strawberries
More signs to look for
  1. Earwigs falling out of bath towels, garden gloves, or folded patio umbrellas
  2. Streaks of dark frass in mulch beds or along the bottom of garage door weatherstripping

Earwigs in Boise & the Treasure Valley

Earwigs are one of the most common July and August calls we get across the Treasure Valley.

More on what we see locally

Foothills neighborhoods like the Boise Bench, Hidden Springs, and parts of Eagle near the river see the worst of it. Heavy bark mulch, daily drip irrigation, and dry summer heat push them off the lawn and toward the foundation. We also see steady earwig problems in Meridian and Star yards with newer landscaping, where fresh mulch and shaded plantings stay damp under the surface even when the top layer looks bone-dry.

Our Solution

How We Handle Earwigs

What our approach looks like

Earwig control is really habitat work plus a tight perimeter.

Our full approach

We treat a 3-foot barrier around the foundation, hit weep holes and door thresholds, and dust mulch beds and rockwork where they cluster. Most homes see numbers drop within a week. New customers start at $49 for the first service.

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How to Prevent Earwigs

Steps you can take to reduce the risk of infestation

  1. Pull bark mulch back at least 6 inches from the foundation, especially on the shaded side of the house
  2. Run drip irrigation early in the day so the soil at the foundation dries before sundown
  3. Add door sweeps on garage and exterior doors (earwigs walk in under the gap)
More prevention steps
  1. Seal weep holes, hose bib gaps, and foundation cracks larger than a credit card edge
  2. Swap white porch bulbs for yellow LEDs (earwigs and the bugs they eat both follow white light)
  3. Keep a dry gravel or rock band 12 inches wide right against the foundation

Earwigs Questions Answered

Common questions about identification, prevention, and treatment

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Do earwigs really crawl into ears?

Quick answerNo.

It's a folk tale, not a fact. Earwigs have no interest in humans, and there are zero documented cases of them nesting in ears. The name comes from the ear-shaped hindwing they fold under those short wing covers.

Why am I suddenly seeing earwigs in my Boise house in July?

Quick answerSummer heat dries out their hiding spots.

When the lawn, mulch, and rockwork bake out in July and August, earwigs migrate toward the foundation looking for moisture and end up coming in through door sweeps, weep holes, and bathroom vents. Most of our July earwig calls are exactly this pattern.

How do I get rid of earwigs without using harsh chemicals?

Quick answerCut the moisture and habitat first.

Pull mulch back at least 6 inches from the foundation, fix any drip irrigation that's soaking the wall, and add door sweeps on garage and exterior doors. We pair those steps with our organic-based perimeter treatment so the bugs that are already there don't make it inside.

Think You Have Earwigs?

Call and we'll talk through your options. We usually get out within 24 to 48 hours.

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