Question
What can I do to organically control my over population of earwigs in my backyard. They are consumming my seeds, taking over fresh potting soil, and have even started to come indoors to my son's room (the only back door entrance with light) I read about milk cartons with pesticide and oats and soda cans buried halfway containing oil to drown the freaky insects. However I was wondering if you had any knowledge of an insect that would calm the population down a bit and/or a plant that would attract good insects or birds to do that trick. Any other suggestions will be extremely appreciated. Thank you Kris Burroughs Chino California

Answer
the best bet is to alter their habitat.
HABITS

They are primarily nocturnal, feeding at night. They are scavengers, eating primarily dead insects and decomposing plant materials. Some species are attracted to lights. During the day, they will seek shelter under organic matter such as mulch, pine straw, leaf litter, and other debris. They prefer dark and damp areas like under sidewalks, and stones. They eat live plants and can do damage to field crops. They are found in homes and can get in through entry points like doors and windows, and by going up the foundation. Their populations build up around foundations. They produce large populations rather quickly and are often a major problem in new subdivisions. Earwigs live in habitats that also harbor centipedes, sow bugs (roly-poly), and millipedes.  


RECOMMENDATIONS

Removing their habitats is very important to the control of all insects, including earwigs. As they are attracted to lights, it might help to reduce some of the lighting outside at night. Most insecticide treatment should be done outside with application around the building foundation, flower beds, mulch areas and turf within a couple of yards of the building, as well as in the crawl space areas of the home.

Recommended products and treatment are:  TALSTAR , DEMON WP  or  SUSPEND

All these products are odorless and will provide excellent results. Feel free to write or call if you have any questions about the differences of these products.

If earwigs are coming indoors, use a supplemental treatment such as a crack and crevice aerosol, spraying along the baseboards, beneath cabinets, and other hiding places on the ground level. A good aerosol is either INTRUDER or INVADER. Both come with crack and crevice tools to spay with a fine stream.
i'm in southern NJ. get to a local garden center and see what they recommend for your area.