Why There Are So Many Earwigs in Wisconsin This Year

Grab mail out of your mailbox, an earwig falls out. Pick up something off the floor, an earwig scurries away. Even while doing dishes a few try to escape your kitchen sink. Why are there so many earwigs around this summer? Here's the answer.

Why We're Seeing So Many Earwigs

It's not just you, these little harmless pinchers are everywhere. It can sometimes be easy to forget that they are harmless to us and that there are benefits to having them around.

This summer, the abundance of earwigs in Wisconsin can be attributed to several environmental and biological factors.

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Earwigs thrive in moist environments, and Wisconsin has experienced higher-than-average rainfall this year, creating ideal conditions for their proliferation.

Additionally, the relatively mild winter may have allowed more earwigs to survive and reproduce.

Earwig Facts

Earwigs are nocturnal insects seeking dark, damp places during the day. They are often found in mulch, leaf litter, and under stones or logs.

With the increased moisture, these hiding spots have become more abundant and conducive to earwig habitation. Gardens and yards, particularly those with heavy vegetation and organic debris, provide ample shelter and food sources, contributing to their increased presence.

Another factor could be the earwigs' reproductive cycle. Earwigs lay their eggs in the soil, and the warm, wet conditions can accelerate the hatching process and increase the survival rate of the nymphs (young earwigs). This, combined with a potential decrease in natural predators, has likely led to a population boom.

Human activities also play a role. Increased gardening and landscaping during the summer months can disturb earwig habitats, causing them to seek refuge inside homes and buildings. They are attracted to light and may enter through cracks, seeking moisture and food.

These same conditions are why there is a 'bug boom' throughout Illinois, this summer.

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