7 Natural Earwig Killer Spray Recipes (2024)

Making my own earwig killer spray is simple.

Here’s the most helpful and cost-effective method I’ve found:

• Blend garlic, cayenne pepper, dish soap, and water.
• Let the mixture sit for a day before straining.
• Test the spray on a small plant area, then wait 48 hours.
• If it’s effective, I spray plants in the morning for best results.
• I reapply as needed, especially after rain.

To ensure I get rid of earwigs effectively and cheaply, I first grab a quart of water and mix it with crushed garlic cloves and cayenne pepper. I add a tablespoon of dish soap to ensure the mixture sticks to leaves. After letting it rest for a full day, I strain out the solids, which leaves me with a potent spray that I can apply directly to my plants.

Before I go all-in, I test a small patch and give it a couple of days to see how my plants react. If all seems well, my morning routine includes a quick spray-down of the vulnerable plants. This way, the solution has the entire day to settle in and do its magic. And after rainfall, I’m quick to reapply it to maintain its effectiveness.

Have you ever found small holes in the leaves of your favorite plants? You know, the ones that you are careful to water regularly? The ones that you keep healthy to produce ripe vegetables or beautiful flowers? If you’ve ever faced this problem, it’s time to find a homemade earwig killer spray to get rid of these pests. “I always tell people to look for the simplest solutions in their kitchen before resorting to store-bought chemicals,” advises Madison Kerr, a seasoned authority on pest control.

If you have found such small holes, chances are you have a pest control problem (hint, hint, it’s probably an earwig issue). And, if you’ve let the problem linger for quite some time, you’ve probably noticed that the earwigs have left your garden to make their way into your home; though they don’t breed inside the house, they do find hiding places and come out later.

Remember, an earwig trap may not help save all your garden plants, but it will get rid of the insects in a timely fashion. What’s more, a natural earwig repellent uses ingredients that don’t have a trace of harmful chemicals.

My Homemade Earwig Killer Spray Repellent

Spices are often used in earwig killing sprays, which is convenient considering most households have the necessary spices handy.

Blend the ingredients and allow the mixture to sit for at least 24 hours. Strain out any solids from the mixture and pour the liquid into a spray bottle.

Try testing the solution on the plant first by spraying small areas and giving the plant approximately 48 hours to see what results you get. If the process is working on your earwigs, continue to spray your plants early in the morning, as this will allow the solution to seep in by nightfall.

My Natural Earwig Repellent Trap

Earwig traps are relatively easy to construct, especially if you have the necessary ingredient and container lying around the house. If you don’t, head to your local convenience store and pick them up.

Grab a can or container, preferably the size of a tuna fish can, or a cat food can. Fill the container approximately halfway with fish oil or vegetable oil.

Once you’ve filled your small can, place it on ground level to where the earwigs may be attacking your vegetable garden or plant material.

Then, place a cardboard tube near the can and put oatmeal or bran inside of the tube to attract and trap earwigs. The next morning, shake the earwigs into a bucket of soapy water, as this will drown the insects.

My Diatomaceous Earth Trick to Killing Earwigs

Diatomaceous earth is known to help get rid of many bugs, including earwigs, also known as pincher bugs. The diatoms in diatomaceous earth scratch the surface of earwigs and draw out any oil or waxes the insects may have within their bodies, therefore dehydrating them and causing them to die.

If you want to control earwigs and deter them away from your organic matter and flower beds, sprinkle some diatomaceous earth around your plants as a protective barrier.

If it has rained or been extremely humid in the area where you are living, be sure to apply diatomaceous earth to your entire plants, as the moisture can affect its ability to work.

Controlling My Earwigs with Neem Oil

Many people try to deal with these natural predators by using chemical sprays; however, that’s not wise, especially if you’re trying to keep beneficial insects around and keep your fruit trees healthy.

If you start seeing small holes in your leaves, flowers, or fruit, immediately adopt a natural earwig repellent. An excellent way to go about this would be to use neem oil on plants that you’re trying to protect.

Just mix equal parts of neem oil with insecticidal soap and spray it over the areas you suspect earwigs to be. Other insects, such as Japanese beetles, can also die from neem oil.

My Oil Pit Traps for Earwigs

If earwigs are attacking your plants or using entry points to get into your home, try setting up oil traps.

Mix equal parts soy sauce with olive or vegetable oil and pour the solution into a small container. Secure the lid, then punch holes into the top of the bottle to allow the earwigs entry.

Bury the container in the soil just enough so that the holes will peek out. Eventually, the soy sauce will attract the earwigs, and the oil will trap them. Be sure to change out the mixture regularly.

My Best Earwig Killing Tip/Trick

Some steps are easier than others when trying to get rid of earwigs. For instance, you can just spread petroleum jelly around the stems of your plants. Earwigs refuse to crawl over this substance.

What’s more, this trick works in any moisture zone worldwide, including but not limited to the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, and all of Europe. The best part is it’s a highly affordable solution to such a world-known problem. You probably already have a jar in the bathroom cabinet.

Killing Earwigs in My Wood Piles

The one ingredient that will get rid of European Forficula auricularia, otherwise known as earwigs, from crawling around in your wood piles is to sprinkle Borax around your plants.

After a few days, you should see earwig excrement and leftovers from the dried-up insect bodies; dispose of the earwigs before they absorb into the soil. Be sure to keep pets and children away from wood piles if you’re using borax to stop the earwigs from entering.

Here, you’ve learned how to make an efficient homemade earwig killer spray to get rid of those reddish-brown earwigs roaming around in your plants.

Much like the cooperative extension mission, we’ve gathered educational information for you to use so that you’ll never have to go through an earwig pest control problem again (or at least you’ll know how to stop it when it happens).

Use these natural earwig repellent recipes and tips to protect your plants, your wood piles, and your fruit trees. Don’t give all the photo credits to us, even if your vegetation is looking better than ever, because you’re the one that listened to our advice!

My Recipe for Homemade Earwig Killer Spray

Homemade Earwig Killer Spray

Yield: 4 cups

Prep Time: 1 day

Total Time: 1 day

Difficulty: Easy

A simple and natural solution for pesky earwigs.

Materials

• 1 tbsp dishwashing liquid
• 32 ounces of water
• 1 tbsp cayenne pepper
• 6 cloves of garlic, chopped

Tools

• Measuring cup
• Tablespoon
• 32-ounce spray bottle
• Bowl
• Strainer

Instructions

1. Add the ingredients to the bowl and let the mixture sit overnight.
2. Strain out the garlic.
3. Pour the liquid into the sprayer.
4. Spray affected plants early in the day.
5. Check the plants in a couple of days and reapply if needed.

Notes

Do not get this mixture in your eyes.

We hope you enjoyed our homemade earwig killer spray article. If you did, please share our natural earwig repellent recipes on Facebook and Pinterest with your family and friends.