Earwigs (insect order Dermaptera) want a humid habitat to avoid desiccation (extreme dryness). They breed under foundations and in moist leaf litter. Because they are attracted to lights, one can reduce insects and spiders by reducing lighting around doors, windows, and other potential entry sites. Use special sodium vapor yellow lights which are less attractive to insects instead of white, neon, or mercury vapor lights. During dry, hot weather, earwigs search for a humid habitat, so they enter homes through small cracks. Reducing moisture under and around the foundation will help to control earwigs. Keep leaves, woodpiles, compost, and other organic material away from the side of the building. Make sure that rainwater from the roof is drained well away from the building foundation. Use caulking compound, putty, and weather stripping around doors, windows, pipes, and other entry sites, especially at the ground level. Place sticky traps at floor level in moist areas such as wet basements, bathrooms, and near overwatered potted plants. The best defense is to use sodium vapor yellow lights, capture specimens, reduce moisture, and seal out routes of entry.
For more information on earwigs, read this Ohio State Cooperative Extension publication Earwigs HYG-2068-94 and this Texas A&M publication Earwigs.
