Earwigs in Southern California

Earwig

Earwigs freak people out. The long body, the pincers, the fast movements… and yes, some earwigs even fly. If you’re seeing earwigs around your home, especially during cooler months, you’re not alone. Earwigs are one of the most common pests homeowners in Rialto, Fontana, and surrounding Southern California communities ask us about.

Let’s break down why they show up, how they move, why they stick around when the weather cools down, and what you can do to finally keep them out of your home.

Why Earwigs Can Fly

Most people don’t know this, but earwigs do have wings. They’re tucked under short, hard covers on their backs, which makes them look like they can’t fly. And while they don’t fly often, they are capable of short, quick flights when they need to escape or move to new areas.

So if you’ve seen something weird zoom through the air and then land and scurry away, there’s a good chance it was an earwig.

Why You Get Earwigs Around Your Home

Earwigs love moisture. They move toward damp, shaded areas where they can hide during the day. That means you’ll often find them near:

• Overwatered lawns

• Flower beds

• Mulch

• Leaky hoses

• Damp soil

• Wood piles

• Under rocks, pavers, or patio furniture

When these areas become too crowded or too wet, earwigs start wandering closer to your home. And if there are gaps or cracks, they slip inside—sometimes by the dozens.

Inside, they hide in:

• Bathrooms

• Kitchens

• Laundry rooms

• Garages

• Under sinks

• Behind baseboards

If you’ve ever turned on a bathroom light and watched an earwig dart across the floor, you know exactly what we’re talking about.

Where Earwigs Come From

Southern California’s warm climate gives earwigs plenty of places to reproduce. They lay eggs in moist soil, and when conditions are right, you’ll see spikes in activity. Irrigation leaks, overwatering, heavy rain, or thick mulch beds create perfect breeding zones.

They don’t invade your home because it’s dirty—they come in because the conditions outside push them to look for shelter, warmth, and new food sources.

Why You Still See Earwigs in Cooler Weather

Cool weather slows pests down, but it doesn’t eliminate earwigs. They survive fall and winter because:

• Southern California rarely gets cold enough to kill them

• They hide under warm foundation areas

• They move into garages, bathrooms, and kitchens for heat

• Moisture doesn’t go away in winter

They stay active anytime temperatures are above freezing, and they reproduce year-round in mild climates like ours.

So yes, seeing earwigs in November, December, or even January is completely normal here.

How to Get Rid of Earwigs

You’re not stuck with them.

Here’s what helps:

• Reduce heavy watering

• Fix irrigation leaks

• Trim plants away from the foundation

• Remove wet mulch or overly thick layers

• Seal cracks around doors and windows

• Keep outdoor lighting minimal (lights attract other bugs that earwigs feed on)

• Schedule a professional pest control treatment to reduce populations at the source

DIY sprays may kill a few earwigs you see, but they won’t fix the moisture issues or treat the nesting zones where new ones are hatching.

Professional Earwig Control in Rialto and Fontana

At TruPest Solutions, we help homeowners get rid of earwigs by treating the places they hide—not just the places you see them. We focus on moisture zones, foundation edges, cracks, and entry points that earwigs use to sneak inside.

We also customize treatments for Southern California’s climate so earwigs don’t come back when the weather warms up.

If you’re tired of earwigs showing up in your bathroom, garage, or around your patio, we’re here to help.

Call 951-334-5288 or visit TruPestSolutions.com to schedule your earwig treatment today.