Earwigs, or dermacteria, can be a pretty big deal to deal with, but it's not impossible to get rid of them. They are harmless, but they feed on decaying leaves and wood, causing damage. They live in humid environments, so they thrive in the garden or in moldy corners of the house. Eliminate them with natural or chemical pesticides and prevent their return by protecting your home and surrounding outdoor areas.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Kill the Dermacteria
Step 1. Use a mixture of water and dish soap if you want to avoid pesticides
Fill a spray bottle with warm water, add a few drops of dish soap and gently swirl the solution to blend it. To kill earwigs, spray it on plant leaves, but also on damp corners of the house or garden where you have spotted these insects.
Repeat this every time you see them in your home or in the surrounding areas
Step 2. Make an alcohol-based insecticide spray for faster action
Pour the denatured alcohol and water in equal parts into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the skin as soon as you see them. The alcohol will penetrate the waxy bloom on their shell and kill them immediately.
Step 3. Sprinkle powdered boric acid into hard-to-reach areas
Boric acid is a natural insecticide that kills skin bacteria on contact. Sprinkle it where they tend to crawl, such as around baseboards. Be sure to keep it away from children and pets, otherwise unwanted consequences could arise if they come into contact with this substance.
- Buy boric acid at a hardware store, drugstore, or on the Internet.
- Use the amount you need if you keep it out of the reach of children and animals.
- To get rid of skin bacteria, you can sprinkle powdered boric acid around wood piles or in damp corners of the garden.
Step 4. Set up a trap to kill these parasites outside when it is night
Fill a bucket with 4 parts hot water and 1 parts dish soap and mix until foam forms. Place it outside with a lamp pointed at the surface of the soapy water. The earwigs will be attracted to the light and drown in the bucket.
Step 5. Set up an oil and soy sauce trap to capture and exterminate them
Pour the soy sauce and olive oil (or other vegetable oil) in equal parts into a plastic container. Make holes in the lid about 6-7 mm in diameter and close the container. The smell of the mixture will attract skin bacteria that will enter and drown.
- You should fill the container with about 2-3 cm of solution.
- If you put the trap in the garden, bury the container up to the lid.
Step 6. Vacuum the earwigs if they have formed a large colony
If they are concentrated in one area, vacuum them. Collect as many as you can by sifting the area with this cleaning tool. Try to get rid of the eggs as well if you see them. Throw the bag or empty the vacuum cleaner into a bucket of soapy water to kill them.
Be prepared to turn on the vacuum cleaner before approaching the insects to prevent them from spreading
Step 7. Attract birds to the garden if you prefer to exterminate skin bacteria naturally
The birds feed on these insects. Lure them into the garden by installing a bird feeder or tub to make the area more inviting. You can also try planting some berry bushes or fruit trees to entice them to come.
Step 8. Apply a pesticide about 2 to 3 m from home
There are a number of granular pesticides specially formulated to kill earwigs. Choose one and apply it on the lawn surface and in the garden 2-3m away from the foundation. Spray some water immediately after using it so that it penetrates the soil where the dermacteria tend to lay their eggs.
Method 2 of 2: Keep the Scissors Out of the House and Garden
Step 1. Repair any holes in the mosquito nets to prevent them from entering
Dermacteria can enter the house through small entry points formed on the mosquito nets of the windows. Use strong glue to repair cracks and tears. Fix holes larger than 2 cm by gluing a patch with strong adhesive.
If the mosquito net is badly damaged, replace it completely to prevent them from entering the house
Step 2. Use sealant to fill the cracks and holes near the entrance
Dermacteria are likely to have access to the home through the cracks created around doors and windows. Fill in the small cracks in these places with a silicone sealant gun. Repeat this every year to prevent unwanted guests from entering.
Step 3. Repair leaking taps or drains in and around the house
Humidity allows earwigs to live and reproduce. Prevent it by checking for water leaks in the bathroom, kitchen, basement and outdoor areas. Fix leaking pipes yourself or call a plumber.
Step 4. Use sodium vapor bulbs in place of regular outdoor lights
Most light bulbs emit a blue wavelength which attracts insects. The low pressure sodium ones, often used for sowing, have a more yellow hue. Replace your porch or window bulbs with sodium-vapor bulbs.
You can buy them at hardware stores or on the Internet
Advice
- Dermacteria are very fast and difficult to catch.
- The leaves damaged by these insects have an uneven appearance and are full of holes. You may also notice black droppings on the surface.
- Apply petroleum jelly to the base of the plants to prevent earwigs from climbing.
- Keep in mind that skin bacteria proliferate during particularly rainy seasons.
- Check all the items you bring into the house from the garden to avoid introducing these pests into your home.
- Avoid touching them - they can bite.
