"Earwigs are damaging plants in my garden. How can I control them?"

I have been getting several calls about this.

Earwigs are a common insect in Iowa. The common earwig is about 5/8 inch long and is dark brown with a reddish head and pale yellow-brown legs. Its most distinctive feature is prominent pincers or forceps on the end of the abdomen. On females, the pincers are fairly straight, while the pincers on males are more curved and caliper-like.

Earwigs are typically found in damp areas, such as under mulches, dead leaves, logs and piles of firewood. They mainly feed on moist, decaying plant material. However, they also occasionally feed on vegetables and ornamental plants in the garden. Earwig populations are highest in wet years.

Management of earwigs in flower and vegetable gardens is not easy. One option is trapping and destroying the earwigs. Place burlap bags, boards, newspapers or other materials on the ground, then collect the earwigs daily and destroy them. Insecticides are another option. Select a home garden insecticide labeled for this purpose and apply according to label directions. Applications in late afternoon are preferred as earwigs feed at night.