While some species of earwigs do eat other insects, for the most part, earwigs eat plants. They prefer to live outdoors, hiding under rocks and leaf litter.
Unfortunately, letting earwigs loose in your bedroom will not eliminate a bed bug infestation. However, some insects will eat bed bugs. These include:
- Pharaoh ants
- Spiders
- Centipedes
- Cockroaches
As you can see, the list of common bed bug predators is themselves unwanted pests. Releasing any of these insects thinking that they’ll eat bed bugs, will cause more problems than it can ever solve. Moreover, it’s unlikely that any of these insects will eat enough bed bugs to do any good. You’ll simply end up with two pests to eliminate.
Can You Use Earwigs To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?
Based on extensive research, earwigs do eat bed bugs. Earwigs eat bugs, so bed bugs certainly would be apart of their diet. Despite this fact, it is not ideal to use earwigs to get rid of bed bugs.
If the bed bugs are confined to the bed, you can move the mattress and boxspring outside, and leave them under the hot sun all day. While the bed is outside, wash all bedding and any clothing left on the floor in hot water, and dry in a hot dryer. Before you bring the bed back inside, seal it in a plastic cover.
For items that can’t be washed, such as shoes and backpacks, you can also leave them under the hot sun. Or, better yet, tumble them in a hot dryer.
However, the fact is, bed bugs like to wedge themselves into crevices, and they are likely still hiding in your home. Dealing with the bed is only part of the solution.
A professional pest control service has the tools and the know-how to permanently get rid of bed bugs. They know where they are likely hiding and can solve your bed bug problem with insecticides that are safe to use in the bedroom. Also, nontoxic, professional bed bug treatments include using hot steam; a professional exterminator will have the right tools and training to apply a steam treatment.