Spiders, ants & crawling insects
Earwig control in Salt Lake City, UT
Earwigs in the laundry room, under the doormat and all over the window wells by August. They don't pinch much and they don't climb in ears, but they come in by the dozen when the yard is wet.
Most active
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Winter
Quick answer
Earwig control in Salt Lake City is mostly a moisture and entry problem. European earwigs thrive in northern Utah, peak in mid to late summer and shelter by day in damp mulch, stones and window wells. We treat the foundation line, beds and wells, point out the wet spots and gaps that let them in, and treat indoors where they're turning up.
At a glance
- Best for
- Earwigs indoors, in window wells or piling up in mulch
- Most active
- Mid to late summer
- How it works
- Foundation treatment plus moisture and mulch changes
- Visit length
- About an hour for most homes
Overview
Why earwigs end up inside
Earwigs live outside, in damp, dark shelter: under mulch, stones, boards, flower pots and the leaves in window wells. At night they come out to feed on plants, dead matter and other insects, and they walk a surprising distance doing it.
They end up indoors when the shelter is right against the house. Thick mulch piled up the siding, sprinklers soaking the foundation and window wells full of wet leaves put thousands of earwigs a few inches from gaps under doors and around basement windows. Laundry rooms, bathrooms and basements are where they show up.
Treatment works best in two parts: a residual treatment along the foundation, beds and wells where earwigs travel, and changes to the moisture and mulch that keep drawing them in. Without the second part, they come right back.
Your options
Earwig treatment options
| Option | Best for | How it works | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perimeter treatment | Earwigs coming inside | A residual band along the foundation, beds and wells | Irrigation wears it down over time |
| Moisture and mulch changes | Every earwig problem | Removes the damp shelter next to the house | Needs changes to sprinklers and beds |
| Traps and removal | Garden damage | Rolled cardboard or oil traps pull numbers down | Won't stop earwigs getting inside on its own |
Cost
What earwig control costs
Earwig work is usually priced like a general exterior treatment.
Published range
A general exterminator visit typically runs about $100 to $260. Source: angi.com, checked September 2026.
Size of the yard and beds
More mulch beds and ground cover along the house mean more treatment area.
Window wells
Each well gets cleared and treated, and older homes can have several.
How many are inside
Heavy activity in basements and laundry rooms adds interior work.
Moisture issues
Leaky hose bibs or downspouts that soak the foundation keep the problem going.
Plan or one-time
Earwigs return each summer, which a quarterly plan covers.
What it covers
Where we find earwigs
Mulch and flower bed earwigs
Beds against the foundation, ground cover and stone borders where earwigs shelter by day.
Basement and laundry room earwigs
Indoor treatment where earwigs turn up, plus the gaps under doors and around basement windows.
Window well earwigs
Wells cleared of wet leaves and debris, then treated so they stop feeding earwigs into the basement.
Do it yourself?
Changes that cut earwig numbers
What you can do today
- Pull mulch back a few inches from the siding and keep it thin near the house.
- Adjust sprinklers so they don't soak the foundation.
- Clear wet leaves and debris out of window wells.
- Set rolled cardboard traps near garden plants and empty them each morning.
What to leave alone
- Piling mulch or stones right up against the siding.
- Leaving boards, pots and yard waste stacked beside the house.
- Running sprinklers at night right next to the foundation.
- Leaving outside lights on all night near doors.
How the visit goes
How an earwig treatment goes
Find the shelter
Mulch beds, stones, pots, window wells and damp spots along the house.
Check the way in
Door sweeps, basement windows, weep holes and gaps at the foundation.
Treat outside
A residual treatment along the foundation, beds and wells.
Treat inside
Laundry rooms, basements and bathrooms where earwigs are turning up.
Fix the conditions
What to change with mulch, sprinklers and wells so they stop coming back.
Before we arrive
Before your earwig treatment
- Turn off sprinklers the day before and the morning of the visit.
- Move pots and garden decor off the foundation line.
- Unlock side gates.
- Show us where earwigs are turning up inside.
- Clear floors in the laundry room and basement edges.
- Keep pets inside until treated areas dry.
- Tell us about vegetable gardens so we can plan around them.
- Point out any damp spots or leaks along the house.
Warning signs
Signs earwigs have the upper hand
Sign 01
Earwigs indoors every morning
Finding them in the laundry room, tub or basement daily means a large population right outside.
Sign 02
Ragged holes in leaves and petals
Earwigs chew irregular holes in flowers, lettuce, basil and soft fruit.
Sign 03
Clusters in window wells
Wet leaves in wells make a perfect daytime shelter a few inches from the basement.
Sign 04
Piles under the doormat
Earwigs gathered under mats and pots point to damp shelter by the door.
Sign 05
Worse every summer
Numbers that build each year mean the moisture and shelter haven't changed.
Salt Lake conditions
Earwig season in northern Utah
The European earwig was introduced into Utah in the early 1900s and has been remarkably successful in northern Utah. Eggs hatch in May, and populations build to their highest numbers in mid to late summer, which is when basements and laundry rooms start filling up. Earwigs feed at night and shelter by day, and nymphs and adults walk an average of 30 feet a night looking for food, so a damp bed along the foundation is well within reach of a gap under the door.
That's why we time earwig work for early summer when we can, before the population peaks.
Sources: extension.usu.edu, extension.usu.edu
For spiders, ants and other crawling insects we choose from product lines like these, matched to the pest and where it hides.
- Demand CS
- Suspend PolyZone
- Temprid
- Tempo
- Alpine WSG
- Advion
- Maxforce
- Gentrol
Timing
How long earwig control takes
- First nightEarwigs crossing the treated band start dying off.
- First weekIndoor sightings should drop sharply.
- Two to three weeksIf earwigs keep coming in, there is usually a moisture source or gap we still need to deal with.
- Next summerEarwigs return each season, so an early-summer visit keeps numbers down.
Dry the edges, and the earwigs move on
Thinner mulch, drier foundations and clear window wells do as much as the treatment itself.
Call (801) 516-0135Damp mulch against the siding shelters earwigs all day.
FAQ
Earwig control questions from Salt Lake homeowners
Still unsure? (801) 516-0135 is answered around the clock.
No. The name comes from an old myth. Earwigs are a nuisance in the house and the garden, not a danger.
They can pinch with their rear pincers if handled, but it rarely breaks the skin.
They seek damp, dark shelter. Rooms with drains and moisture near the foundation are where they end up.
They chew leaves, flowers and soft fruit, but they also eat aphids and other plant pests. Traps help protect plants.
Numbers build through summer and peak in mid to late summer, then drop off as the weather cools.
Yes. Thick, wet mulch against the siding is the main daytime shelter. Pulling it back and letting the edge dry makes a big difference.
Tell us where edible plants are. We keep treatment to the foundation and non-food beds and plan around the garden.
Related services
More from spiders, ants & crawling insects
From the Pest Library: Window wells: the Salt Lake basement's pest doorway
Talk to us
Earwigs taking over the laundry room?
Call now to get the foundation, beds and window wells treated.
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