If you have noticed more earwigs in your Ottawa home this summer, you are not imagining it. Earwig activity has been running high across Ontario in 2026, and Ottawa's humid stretches and older housing stock make it one of the more exposed cities in the region. This guide covers exactly why earwigs get inside, when they are worst, and what actually keeps them out for good — not just the ones you can already see.
Earwigs are more of a persistent nuisance than a genuine threat, but repeated sightings inside a home are a real signal worth acting on. It usually means there is an active moisture source and an entry point close by, both of which are fixable.
Why Ottawa Sees So Many Earwigs
Earwigs live outdoors by preference, hiding in mulch, under stones, in woodpiles, and anywhere damp and shaded during the day. They only move toward a house when outdoor conditions push them there — usually because it has gotten too dry, too wet, or too hot outside, and your foundation offers better shelter. Ottawa's humid July and August stretches, combined with mulch beds and window wells common in older neighbourhoods like Westboro, Centretown, and the Glebe, create exactly the conditions earwigs are drawn to.
How They Actually Get Inside
Earwigs do not fly and rarely climb far, so they enter almost entirely at ground level — through gaps around foundation cracks, unsealed door thresholds, worn weatherstripping, and foundation vents. Outdoor lighting near entry points makes this worse, since earwigs are drawn to light at night and end up congregating right next to the gap they eventually use to get in. Once inside, they gravitate to the dampest indoor spots available: basements, under-sink cabinets, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
When Ottawa's Earwig Season Peaks
Ottawa earwig activity typically runs from June through September, with the heaviest pressure in July and August, especially following rainy periods that flood outdoor hiding spots and push earwigs toward drier ground near foundations. A mild winter, like the one Ontario had heading into 2026, is generally followed by a stronger earwig season, since fewer overwintering eggs and nymphs are lost to hard frost.
Why DIY Sprays Only Work Temporarily
Store-bought sprays kill the earwigs you can see on contact, but they do nothing to address the moisture source or the entry point still feeding new earwigs into the same spot. This is why homeowners often spray, see the problem disappear for a few days, and then find just as many earwigs a week later. A proper treatment targets the outdoor harborage areas and the entry points directly, not just the visible activity indoors.
What To Do Next
If earwigs keep appearing despite regular cleaning, the fastest path to a lasting fix is a perimeter treatment that targets outdoor harborage areas — mulch beds, foundation gaps, and damp zones — combined with sealing the specific entry points feeding your home. A free inspection identifies exactly where that pressure is coming from before any treatment is applied, so you are not guessing at the source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do earwigs actually crawl into your ears?
No. This is a myth. Earwigs seek cool, dark, moist hiding spots like mulch and household cracks, not human ears. The name comes from old folklore, not their actual behaviour.
Are earwigs dangerous to my family or pets?
Earwigs are not dangerous. They can pinch with their rear pincers if handled, but they do not carry disease and are not a health risk. Indoors they are mainly a persistent nuisance.
Why do I keep finding earwigs even after cleaning?
Repeated sightings almost always mean there is an active moisture source and an entry point feeding new earwigs into the same area, not that cleaning failed. The fix is treating the source and sealing entry points, not just removing what you find.
When is earwig season in Ottawa?
Earwig activity in Ottawa typically runs from June through September, peaking in July and August during humid weeks and after rainy stretches.
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