The seven signs of an earwig infestation are seeing earwigs repeatedly, chewed leaves and flowers, small droppings in their hiding spots, a foul odor, activity that peaks at night, clusters in damp areas, and gaps that let them inside. Earwigs are reddish-brown insects about 3/4 inch long with pincers at the tail end, and UC IPM’s earwig guide notes that, despite those pincers, they are not harmful to people. They are mostly a nuisance indoors and a garden pest outdoors, and spotting the signs early lets you fix the moisture and entry points before you need an earwig control service. Saela Pest Control is a residential and commercial pest control company based in Orem, Utah, and earwigs are among the pests it treats.
1. Seeing Earwigs Again and Again
The clearest sign is the earwigs themselves, especially if you keep finding them in the same places. Earwigs are easy to recognize by their long, flat bodies and the pincer-like forceps on the end of the abdomen. University of Minnesota Extension describes them as about 5/8 inch long and reddish brown, and notes that they most often wander indoors in July and August. Look for them:
- In damp areas such as basements, bathrooms and laundry rooms
- Outdoors under stones, logs, boards and garden debris
- In flower pots and planters
- Around door and window frames
- Between stacked newspapers or cardboard boxes
A few earwigs indoors are common in midsummer, and Minnesota Extension notes that they do not reproduce indoors. Finding them in the same spots day after day, though, usually means a large population is living just outside, close to the foundation, and our guide on when to call an earwig exterminator explains the next steps.
2. Chewed Leaves, Flowers and Seedlings
Earwigs chew irregular holes in leaves and flower petals and can strip seedlings, so ragged plant damage is often the second sign people notice. UC IPM says European earwigs can cause substantial damage to seedlings, soft fruit and sweet corn, and to flowers such as zinnias, marigolds and dahlias. Look for:
- Irregular holes in soft leaves
- Chewed flower petals and buds
- Leaf edges that look gnawed
- Damaged soft fruit, such as strawberries
Snails, slugs and caterpillars cause similar damage, so confirm the culprit before you act. UC IPM recommends going out at night with a flashlight to watch the pests feed, and checking strawberries for slime trails, which point to snails and slugs instead of earwigs.
3. Droppings in Hiding Spots
Small dark specks can collect where earwigs hide, but on their own they are a weak sign, because many insects leave similar droppings. Treat them as a reason to look more closely, especially at night, rather than as proof. Places worth checking include:
- Along baseboards
- In room corners
- Around the base of potted plants
- In dark, quiet storage areas
If you find specks in these spots and also see earwigs there after dark, you have good evidence of where they are sheltering. That tells you where to focus on drying out and sealing.
4. A Foul Odor
Earwigs can release a foul-smelling liquid, which is why a musty or unpleasant smell is sometimes noticed where they gather. Minnesota Extension notes that earwigs give off a foul odor from a liquid released from the abdomen, and UC IPM says the striped earwig has a very disagreeable odor when crushed. A smell like this is most often noticed:
- In basements with water seepage or foundation damage
- Around leaky pipes and other damp spots
- Outdoors in dense vegetation or thick mulch
An odor alone does not confirm earwigs, since mold and other pests can smell musty too. Combined with sightings in the same place, though, it helps locate where they are concentrated.
5. Activity at Night
Earwigs feed at night and hide during the day in dark, cool, moist places, so the best time to check for them is after dark. UC IPM notes that they shelter in flowers, vegetables, mulch and weeds during the day. Signs of nighttime activity include:
- Earwigs scattering when you switch on a light or shine a flashlight
- Earwigs gathering near outdoor lights and garden lighting
- Fresh plant damage that appears overnight
- Earwigs collected in traps set out the evening before
A simple overnight trap confirms activity: UC IPM suggests rolled-up newspaper or a low-sided can with 1/2 inch of oil, set near plants just before dark and checked in the morning. Our guide to earwig pest control covers more ways to monitor them.
6. Clusters in Damp Areas
Earwigs need moisture, so clusters in damp, poorly ventilated areas are a strong sign that conditions in or around the house are supporting them. Leaks, condensation and poor drainage near the foundation create exactly the hiding places they look for. Excess moisture attracts earwigs, according to Minnesota Extension, and they hide in dark, confined, damp places. Check for earwigs:
- Around leaky pipes under kitchen and bathroom sinks
- In damp basements and crawl spaces
- In shady, poorly drained parts of the yard
- In bathrooms and laundry rooms that stay humid
Drying these areas out is the most useful thing you can do: fix leaks, run a dehumidifier or fan in damp rooms, and improve drainage near the foundation. Saela’s integrated pest management approach includes reducing the food, water and shelter that support pests.
7. Entry Points Around the House
The last sign is the gaps earwigs use to get in, because finding and sealing them is how you keep the problem from coming back. UC IPM and Minnesota Extension both recommend sealing cracks and gaps around the outside of the home. The most common entry points are:
- Cracks in the foundation or walls
- Gaps around windows and doors
- Openings around pipes and utility lines
- Damaged or poorly sealed vents
Every Saela plan includes a 50+ point property inspection covering entry points, nesting sites and structural gaps, and Saela’s IPM approach includes sealing entry points. Outside, keep mulch, dense ground cover and debris pulled back from the foundation so earwigs have fewer places to hide next to the house. In a February 2024 Google review, Terry Sotta wrote, “Justin is quick, thorough, checks to determine if we have any issues & addresses them.”
Conclusion
Earwigs are harmless to people, so a few in late summer are a nuisance, not an emergency, but several of these signs together (regular sightings, damp hiding spots and overnight plant damage) mean the population near your foundation is large enough to address. Saela’s protocols are developed by Dennis Weiss, who holds the Entomological Society of America’s Board Certified Entomologist credential. See how Saela prices its plans to compare options.
If earwigs keep turning up indoors after you have dried out damp areas and sealed gaps, book a call with Saela to schedule an inspection. Saela’s American Fork, Utah location is rated 4.9 out of 5 from 118 reviews on Google as of October 2026.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
