Earwig Control
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Earwig Extermination Services
Stride Pest Control provides earwig control for homes and businesses across Central Texas, where these pincer-tailed insects gather in damp mulch and leaf litter and slip indoors when the weather turns hot or dry. Earwigs are hard to keep out on your own because they hide by day and move in numbers along the moist ground around a foundation.
Stride treats earwigs through the Stride Forward integrated pest management process, focused on the damp harborage and entry points they use. Cutting the moisture and sealing the gaps is what keeps earwigs outside where they belong.
Every treatment is backed by a same-day service option and a satisfaction guarantee, and the products we use are odorless and colorless once dry. Because earwigs share the moist ground with other yard pests, Stride also handles centipede control and general pest control around your property.
Earwigs In Central Texas
Earwigs look alarming because of their pincers, but knowing what they actually do takes the worry out of finding one.
| Trait | Earwig |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Dark reddish-brown, with a pair of pincers at the tail |
| The pincers | Used for defense and mating; they can pinch, but the pinch is harmless |
| Where they hide | Mulch, leaf litter, under stones and pots, and in damp cracks |
| When active | Night; they shelter in dark, moist spots by day |
| What they eat | Decaying plant matter, other insects, and tender plants |
| Common myth | They do not crawl into ears or harm people |
Earwigs are a moisture pest at heart, which the Texas A&M AgriLife guide to earwigs lays out, so they turn up wherever the ground stays damp.
Signs You Have Earwigs
Earwigs leave a few signs around a home and yard:
- Earwigs in damp indoor spots like bathrooms, basements, and under sinks.
- Earwigs under mulch, pots, and stones when you move them.
- Chewed seedlings and plant leaves with ragged edges.
- Earwigs coming inside after a hot or dry stretch.
- Damp mulch and leaf litter piled against the foundation.
Are Earwigs Dangerous?
Earwigs are harmless to people despite their appearance. The pincers look menacing, but they cannot break skin in any meaningful way, carry no venom, and the old story about crawling into ears is a myth.
Indoors they are a nuisance. Outdoors, large numbers can damage garden plants and seedlings, chewing ragged holes in leaves. They do not spread disease or damage the structure of a home.
How We Get Rid of Earwigs
Stride treats earwigs through the five-step Stride Forward process, aimed at the damp harborage and entry points they use:
- Inspect. We check the mulch, leaf litter, and damp ground along the foundation, and the gaps earwigs use to get in.
- Identify. We confirm earwigs and the moisture conditions feeding them.
- Recommend. We point out the mulch to pull back, the moisture to fix, and the gaps to seal.
- Treat. We apply a residual barrier along the foundation, treat the harborage where earwigs shelter, and seal entry points.
- Evaluate. We monitor on recurring visits, since earwigs keep migrating from the yard in warm weather.
Our GreenPro certification guides this reduced-risk approach.
How to Keep Earwigs Away
Keeping earwigs out comes back to moisture and sealing:
- Pull mulch and leaf litter back from the foundation.
- Fix moisture and drainage so the ground near the house dries out.
- Seal gaps around doors, windows, and the foundation, and add door sweeps.
- Reduce outdoor lighting or switch to yellow bulbs that draw fewer insects.
- Declutter damp areas indoors and store firewood off the ground.
Earwig Control Frequently Asked Questions
Do earwigs crawl into your ears?
No, this is an old myth. Earwigs do not seek out ears and pose no threat to people. The name is far scarier than the insect.
Are earwig pincers dangerous?
They can deliver a defensive pinch, but it is harmless. Earwigs carry no venom and cannot cause any real injury.
Why are earwigs coming inside my house?
Earwigs move indoors from damp mulch and soil during heat or drought, slipping in through gaps near the foundation in search of moisture.
How do I keep earwigs out?
Reduce moisture around the foundation, pull mulch back from the house, and seal entry points. Drier conditions and sealed gaps give earwigs no reason or route to come in.
THE STRIDE FORWARD PROGRAM
Our Strategic ECO-BASED Protocol
Stride Forward is our Integrated Pest Management program where we partner with our clients in the long-term removal and prevention of pests. Keeping your property free of unwanted insects and rodents works best when we work together.
The program combines habitat manipulation, biological control, cultural behavior changes, and the targeted use of products designed to repel or eradicate pests. Our approach follows five steps, with non-chemical methods prioritized before any product application.
Our Certifications & Awards
Stride Pest Control holds QualityPro and GreenPro certifications through the NPMA’s Foundation for Professional Pest Management, and fewer than 3% of pest control companies nationwide hold both. QualityPro requires background checks on every service member, a drug-free workplace, and 16 standards that exceed state and federal requirements.
Our Austin and Round Rock office operates under Texas Department of Agriculture license TPCL #667951, with Burton Johnston as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our San Antonio office operates under TPCL #827449, with Alex Randall as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our office manager, Michael Honeycutt, is an Associate Certified Entomologist through the Entomological Society of America.
Founded in 2013, we have served nearly 12,000 customers across Central Texas and hold a 4.9-star rating across 2,400+ reviews with an A+ from the BBB.
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Stride Pest Control received an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars
based on 2,400+ reviews.
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4.9 stars across 2,400+ reviews | QualityPro certified | Satisfaction guaranteed