You may have seen some earwigs around your home. They would love nothing more than to feed on the tasty plants in your garden. While keeping them out can be difficult, it is possible. The key, though, is to learn a bit more about them and how to prevent them before they become a problem.

Earwigs are actually quite easy to spot. They are usually a dark brown or red color. They have lighter brown legs and are about 5/8 of an inch long. Their most distinguishing feature are the long pincers at the end of their abdomen. They are rather prolific, too. During the course of one season, a female can lay up to 60 eggs at a time. They lay them under the soil. The adults overwinter in the soil, then start again the next year. Moisture is a big part of an earwig's life. They have to have moist, damp places to survive.

Earwigs are typically nocturnal creatures, and they will eat dead insects or decomposing plant material. The do, however, also consume live plants, and they are just as likely to eat your garden as they are your leaf pile.

Earwigs can also get into your home through a door or problem window. They build up quite rapidly around foundations too. There are superstitions surrounding these creatures in homes, but none of them are true. The idea is that they would burrow into your ears while you sleep, but those pincers people are so afraid of are only used for sparing with rival creatures. If they do get into your home, you are most likely to find them in the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room.

Earwig prevention actually starts outside. They are attracted to moisture, so any moisture control practice is a must. If there is a way to control damp conditions around your crawl space, near your faucet, or even along the foundation, do it. Clean your gutters on a regular basis, and make certain you are directing the water from downspouts and the foundation of your home away from it. You should also liberally caulk and weather strip any potential openings where earwigs might get in.

Clean up your garden debris on a regular basis, too. You may want to spread some dry gravel as your mulch instead of more traditional wood chips. Move any landscape timbers or decorative stones well away from your foundation. Earwigs are also often attracted to light, so adjust the lights so they shine well away from your home.

If you do have a problem with earwigs, make certain you contact a good pest control service immediately. They can not only help treat your current problem, but help you prevent future infestations by making recommendations that will keep these creatures both out of your home and your garden.