How to prevent earwigs from entering the house?
How to prevent earwigs from entering the house?
Prevention involves three lines of defense: sealing entry points, managing the environment, and establishing chemical barriers.
First line: Seal entry points
Earwigs have flattened bodies and can pass through gaps larger than 2 mm. Check and seal:
- Add weather stripping under doors, especially main and balcony doors.
- Fill window sill and frame cracks with caulk.
- Fill air conditioner and electrical pipe penetrations with expanding foam.
- Install stainless steel fine mesh over exhaust fan openings.
- Replace floor drains with insect-proof types.
Second line: Environmental management
Earwigs crawl from outdoors into the house, usually because there are favorable hiding places outside:
- Do not stack damp straw, rotten wood, or bricks against exterior walls.
- Sweep up fallen leaves in the garden; keep compost piles away from the house.
- Mow the lawn regularly to reduce ground cover.
- Clear debris from around foundations.
Third line: Chemical protection
Establish a chemical barrier at potential entry points:
- Regularly spray dinotefuran-containing household insecticide on doorways and window sills.
- Spray exterior foundations and door frames.
- Regularly spray indoor corners and baseboards.
- Earwigs that enter contact the film and die quickly.
Home prevention checklist
- Check door and window gaps every 1-2 weeks.
- After rain, check for new gaps or holes.
- Check under pots before bringing them indoors.
- Open delivery boxes outdoors; do not bring them into bedrooms.