Earwigs in Calgary: How to Get Rid of Them
Quick answer: Earwigs do not live inside your home, they live in the damp soil, mulch and window wells around it. They come indoors when that shelter dries out or fills up. Lasting earwig control means treating the exterior ground and the entry points, then removing the damp harbourage that produces them. That is why an interior spray on its own never solves an earwig problem.
What earwigs actually are
The earwig you see in Calgary is the European earwig. It is 12 to 25 mm long, reddish-brown, and carries a pair of pincers at the tail end. It is nocturnal, needs damp shelter, and feeds on both plants and other small insects. A female lays her eggs in a soil burrow in spring and stays with the young for the first weeks, which is why numbers rebuild in the same beds and window wells every year.
Why earwigs are so heavy in Calgary in July and August
Calgary earwig pressure follows moisture and heat. Overwintering adults become active in late spring, the young develop through June, and the population peaks from mid-July into August. Watering makes it worse: sprinklers and soaker hoses that keep foundation beds damp all summer create exactly the shelter earwigs want. A wet spring, a shaded garden bed, or mulch that never fully dries produces the biggest numbers.
How earwigs get into a house
Earwigs rarely march in through the front door. They follow moisture and shelter:
- Foundation cracks and gaps at the sill plate
- Window wells that collect leaves and water
- Doors with worn sweeps, especially basement and garage doors
- Utility penetrations, dryer vents and hose bibs
- Damp crawl spaces and unsealed basement window frames
- Downspouts and splash blocks that dump water against the wall
Do earwigs pinch or bite?
Earwigs can pinch with their pincers if you pick one up, and it can feel sharp, but they have no venom and no sting. They do not feed on people, they do not spread disease, and they are not a health risk. The real damage is in the garden: chewed petals on dahlias, zinnias and roses, ragged holes in seedlings, and soft fruit eaten at night.
What actually gets rid of earwigs
1. Break the damp shelter outside
Pull mulch back 12 to 18 inches from the foundation, move woodpiles, leaf litter and compost away from the house, and clean out window wells. This one step removes the population's home base.
2. Dry out the entry points
Extend downspouts so water drains away from the wall, fix foundation cracks, replace worn door sweeps, and keep window wells clear of debris. Earwigs follow moisture, so removing the moisture stops the traffic.
3. Reduce them locally
Rolled newspaper or a shallow dish with a little oil placed in a mulch bed will collect earwigs overnight. Empty it into the compost each morning during peak season. It lowers numbers in one bed, but it will not clear a whole property.
4. Treat the exterior properly
A professional treatment applies product to the foundation wall, the adjacent soil and mulch, window wells and planters, then seals the cracks and voids earwigs use to get inside. That combination is what stops an invasion in days instead of weeks.
What earwig control costs in Calgary
Earwig treatment starts at $300, and the price depends on how much exterior ground has to be treated, how many window wells and basement access points are involved, and whether interior activity needs a spot treatment. Multi-unit buildings with shared landscaping are quoted after a walkthrough. See our earwig control Calgary page for what is included, or pest control prices Calgary for every service price.
Earwig prevention calendar for Calgary
| Time of year | What to do | |---|---| | April to May | Clean window wells and beds, move woodpiles and debris away from the foundation | | June | Cut watering back against the wall, extend downspouts, check door sweeps | | July to August | Peak season: exterior treatment if numbers are building, monitor wells and beds | | September | Clear leaves and garden debris, seal foundation gaps before the cool nights push them toward the house | | October to March | No action needed; earwigs are dormant in the soil |
Do earwigs mean something else is wrong?
Sometimes. A steady supply of earwigs usually points at a drainage problem: a downspout discharging at the foundation, a window well that never dries, or soil graded toward the house. If you also see silverfish inside, that is a separate damp-air issue, and our silverfish guide for Calgary homes covers it.
When to call Calgary Pest Guard
Call (825) 760-5364 if you are seeing earwigs indoors every week, if they are getting into a basement, garage or ground-floor suite, or if your garden beds along the foundation are heavily infested. We treat the exterior, seal the entry points, and give you the drainage and harbourage plan that keeps them out next summer. Licensed, insured, and every treatment is guaranteed.