Here are some of the potent essential oils to get rid of earwigs along with certain other home remedies to aid the process. Read the below article to find out!
Earwigs are harmless bugs that have a very bad reputation. Unlike their name, they are not found in the ear, although they might travel up to it. They are usually present inside our homes, especially in damp locations. An adult earwig is a brownish-black creature, which is an inch long. The forceps of the male animals are curved, while the female creatures have straight forceps. They have tiny pair of rear wings, giving them an appearance of fans when they are open. Despite having wings, this insect does not fly much. Earwigs feed on decaying organic matter, including plant leaves, fruits, wood, and insects such as grubs, aphids, and armyworms.
Although, earwigs don’t cause much harm to humans, yet they get quite a nuisance with the presence of earwigs inside the home. There are many ways to get rid of earwigs, among which are essential oils. Know about the essential oils to get rid of earwigs in the article below.
Causes for Earwigs Infestation
There can be a couple of reasons for earwigs to enter your home. They can infest the homes with the following characteristics:
- If your house is located in a suitable outdoor environmental condition that is not too dry, wet or hot, earwigs infestation is likely.
- If you have bright lighting outside your house.
- The gaps or holes or openings inside your home can pave the way for them to get inside.
To avoid earwig infestations, one must reduce the amount of wet material around the property. Cleaning up old piles of debris or large heaps of papers/cardboard is essential to avoid any kind of infestation in or around your home.
Where Do Earwigs Lay Their Eggs?
Earwigs reproduce by laying eggs, which later hatch into many babies. Generally, earwigs tend to lay their eggs in well-protected, moist, dark areas. Check for the below signs in the dark corners of your home or below the carpet to identify earwig infestation.
How to Identify Earwigs Infestation?
- The flowers, vegetables, and leaves in the garden become jagged and are full of holes.
- If you spot Black little excreta around your home, it could be an earwig excreta.
- They climb up the plants and trees to pursue a dry shelter during the rainy season.
- Check the pot’s underside for any dead, decaying, or damaged plant becoming a breeding ground of the earwigs.
Essential Oils To Get Rid of Earwigs
The following essential oils are the most natural and effective methods to get rid of earwigs.
- Eucalyptus Essential Oil: Eucalyptus oil’s strong and sharp smell is considered a potential hazard by insects and can prevent them from forming a habitat.
- Cinnamon Essential Oil: Earwigs hate the smell of cinnamon, and this is readily available for use too. Make sure you use cinnamon essential oil and not the actual cinnamon stick.
- Lavender Essential Oil: Lavender oil is very common oil for controlling pests, with the added benefit of a pleasant aroma. Used commonly in lines etc., to repel insects, it can help keep earwigs at bay too.
- Rosemary Essential Oil: Another fragrance that insects hate is rosemary oil. They usually avoid making habitats if you spray rosemary oil.
- Clove Essential Oil: A natural and effective way of getting rid of earwigs is using the readily available clove essential oil. It has a very striking smell, which keeps any kinds of pests away.
Other essential oils that you can use are:
- Basil Essential Oil
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Any citrus oil will drive all insects away as they hate the potent smell of these oils.
Method
Ingredients
- One of the above-mentioned essential oils
- Cinnamon
- A gallon of water
- A spray bottle
Method
Take a half-ounce of the essential oil in a gallon of water and mix it well. Now, spay this mixture in the garbage areas, basements, and other small house openings. Spray the mixture in the damp and moist areas or where there is dead and decaying plant matter.
Precautions While Using the Essential Oils
- The essential oil must be 100% plant extract.
- The oil should have the Latin name of the plant or flower.
- The bottle must have the country of origin on the bottle.
- Authentic essential oils are stored in dark bottles to stop the light from entering the bottle as it ruins the oil.
- Don’t buy or put essential oils in plastic bottles as it spoils them.
- Essential oils have a strong “natural” smell.
- Authentic essential oils are a bit expensive than inauthentic ones.
Other Ingredients For Earwig Infestation
1. Neem Oil
Neem oil is extracted from the Neem trees. It contains anti-bacterial properties and cures many skin problems such as acne breakouts, scars, dry and wrinkled skin. To repel the earwigs, you can mix a teaspoon of Neem oil with 8 ounces of warm water and spray it in the affected areas.
2. Lemons
Natural acidity of lemons is strong enough to irritate earwigs. Due to its robust and acrid scent, it detters away many types of pests.
3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a classic scent that repels many insects and animals as its scent is very harsh. It is painful for animals even in concentrated amounts. The scent of cinnamon oil is irritating to earwigs and repels them.
4. Clove
Clove oil has a powerful scent and can help in repelling most pests in households. One can use whole or crushed cloves and sprinkle them in the affected areas.
5. White Vinegar
White vinegar is one of the most versatile things to use in your home. The overpowering smell of vinegar repels animals, even the larger animals like skunks.
6. Alcohol
Mix equal amounts of alcohol and water in a spray bottle and spray it near and around the earwig infestation areas. This method can kill earwigs immediately.
7. Boric Acid Powder
It is effective in killing the earwigs, just sprinkle it over them and it will dry out their body, which will eventually lead to their death. Keep it away from kids, as boric powder is toxic in nature.
Use these essential oils to get rid of earwigs but if you want instant results, try the other ingredients combined with essential oils treatment. Share your experiences with the fellow readers to help them in getting rid of earwigs.
