The pincer bug. Just the sight of earwigs sends most Slater homeowners to the phone. The good news: those pincers are mostly for show. The bad news: earwigs can show up in large numbers if conditions are right.

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 Slater.

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 Slater

The conditions that make central Iowa great for landscaping also make it great for earwigs. Mulch, moisture, and organic matter are earwig staples, and Slater properties typically have all three close to the foundation. Once populations build up outside, it only takes a few small gaps in the building envelope to turn an outdoor problem into an indoor one. First-floor bathrooms and basements are usually the first affected areas.

Our Earwig Control Process

We treat earwig infestations with exterior perimeter applications targeting the foundation and adjacent mulch and landscaping. Earwigs aggregate in these zones before entering, so treating them there is far more effective than chasing them through the house. Inside, we treat active areas and harborage zones. We also provide recommendations for reducing earwig pressure long-term — reducing mulch depth, improving drainage, moving landscape materials away from the foundation, and sealing obvious entry points.

Why Choose Miller Pest Solutions

We’ve been doing this since 2001. QualityPro certified, NPMA members, and personally invested in the work — Joel Miller has been in pest control since 2007 and built this company around doing the job right. We give you straight answers, honest bids, and treatments that actually work. No gimmicks, no unnecessary upsells.

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 Slater 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.