Earwigs are one of those pests that surprises people. You think you’re dealing with one or two, and then you find dozens under a doormat or in a basement corner. In Kelley, they’re a regular warm-weather pest.

Earwigs are medium-sized, dark brown insects with a distinctive pair of pincer-like cerci at the rear — those pincers are what gives them their alarming appearance. Despite how they look, earwigs rarely pinch people and aren’t venomous. What they will do is invade in significant numbers when conditions are right, showing up in bathrooms, basements, and kitchens throughout the warmer months in Kelley.

Signs of an Earwig Infestation

Earwig activity is usually noticeable once populations build up. Here’s what to look for:

  • Visible insects: Earwigs in bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms, or dark corners — especially after rain or when exterior conditions dry out and push them indoors.
  • Outdoor aggregations: Large numbers under doormats, in mulch beds, under stones or landscape timbers, or in leaf litter around the foundation.
  • Plant damage: Ragged holes in leaves, flower petals, or seedlings in garden beds — earwigs feed on plant material as well as decaying organic matter.
  • Moisture zones: Earwig activity concentrated near moisture sources — floor drains, under sinks, in basement corners, near sump pits.
  • Night activity: Earwigs are most active at night. Turning on a porch light and checking the foundation area after dark often reveals the extent of outdoor populations.

Why Earwigs Are Common in Kelley

Iowa’s climate supports robust earwig populations from May through September. In Kelley, most earwig invasions originate in the landscaping immediately surrounding the home — mulch beds, rock borders, and ground cover plants that stay moist and cool. When populations in the landscape reach a certain density, earwigs push inside. Basements and bathrooms — with their consistent moisture and darkness — are the typical landing zones.

Our Earwig Control Process

Our earwig treatment starts with the exterior. We apply residual insecticide to the foundation perimeter, treating the band of landscaping and mulch closest to the structure. This knocks down the population that’s staging outside before entry and creates a barrier that discourages re-entry. Inside, we treat any active areas — typically basements and bathrooms. We also identify harborage reduction opportunities: overgrown ground cover, excess mulch, landscape timbers, and debris piles that should be moved away from the foundation.

Why Choose Miller Pest Solutions

We’re QualityPro certified, NPMA members, and have been operating since 2001. Joel Miller has been in pest control since 2007. That experience matters — we’ve seen every kind of infestation this region produces, and we know what works. We serve Kelley and the broader Des Moines metro with the same professional standards we apply everywhere. You’ll get honest communication, effective treatment, and no unnecessary services.

Get a Free Phone Bid Today

Earwig invasions don’t resolve themselves — the population outside keeps replenishing what you kill inside. If earwigs are showing up regularly in your Kelley home, call Miller Pest Solutions at (515) 329-8801 for a free phone bid. We’ll give you a straight answer on what’s driving the problem and what it’ll take to fix it. Visit us at millerthekiller.com to learn more.