Earwigs and Silverfish in Idaho: Identification and Control Guide
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Danger Level: 1/5
Earwigs
Forficula auricularia
Updated May 2026 · Boise, ID
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. The pincers look menacing, but they're mostly...
Quick Facts
Size12-25mm long
ColorDark brown to reddish-brown
Lifespan1 year
Active SeasonsSpring, Summer
Common LocationsGardens, Mulch, Under debris
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Identification
How 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.
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. The pincers look menacing, but they're mostly for defense and mating. Earwigs have wings folded under short covers but almost never fly.
Behavior
Earwigs Behavior & Habits
Understanding how earwigs behave helps prevent infestations
Earwigs are nocturnal. 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.
Dangers
Earwigs Risks & Dangers
What earwigs can do to your health and property
Health Risks
Earwigs aren't dangerous. 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
Indoors, earwigs don't damage anything structural. Outside, they can chew seedlings, hostas, marigolds, and ripening fruit, which is why Boise gardeners notice them first in the vegetable beds.
Warning Signs
Signs of Earwigs Infestation
Look for these indicators in your home
Long, flat bugs with rear pincers showing up in bathrooms, basements, or laundry rooms
Dozens of earwigs clustered under doormats, potted plants, or stepping stones
Chewed edges on seedlings, marigolds, hostas, or ripening strawberries
Earwigs falling out of bath towels, garden gloves, or folded patio umbrellas
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. 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 Eliminate Earwigs
Professional treatment for complete elimination
Earwig control is really habitat work plus a tight perimeter. 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.
Prevention
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 house2
Run drip irrigation early in the day so the soil at the foundation dries before sundown3
Add door sweeps on garage and exterior doors (earwigs walk in under the gap)4
Seal weep holes, hose bib gaps, and foundation cracks larger than a credit card edge5
Swap white porch bulbs for yellow LEDs (earwigs and the bugs they eat both follow white light)6
Keep a dry gravel or rock band 12 inches wide right against the foundationFAQ
Earwigs Questions Answered
Common questions about identification, prevention, and treatment
Do earwigs really crawl into ears?
No. 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?
Summer 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?
Cut 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, family-safe perimeter treatment so the bugs that are already there don't make it inside.
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