Moisture Matters: Why Chiggers, Millipedes & Earwigs Love Your Damp Yard

Ever notice a sudden swarm of creepy crawlers after it rains? Or see strange bugs hanging out around your porch, garden beds, or even sneaking into your house?

You’re not alone — and it’s not a coincidence.

Bugs like chiggers, millipedes, and earwigs all have one big thing in common: they love moisture. And if your yard holds onto water, you're basically rolling out the welcome mat.

Let’s dig into why these pests show up and what you can do to make your yard less appealing.

Why Moisture Brings the Bugs

Here’s how it works:

• Chiggers, which are actually immature mites, thrive in humid, shaded areas with thick vegetation. They use moisture to stay cool and hidden while they wait for a host (like you or your pets).

• Millipedes feed on decaying organic material like leaves and mulch. They’re soft-bodied and can’t survive long without moisture, which is why they hang out in damp places.

• Earwigs hide under mulch, rocks, flowerpots, and garden debris — anywhere dark and wet. When it gets too dry, they start looking for cooler, more humid spots. Sometimes that means your home.
  

If your yard is consistently wet, shady, or overgrown, you’re creating the perfect environment for all three.

Are You Accidentally Attracting Them?

You might be giving these pests everything they want without realizing it. Here are a few common moisture traps:

• Overwatering the lawn: Most yards only need 1 inch of water per week — and that includes rainfall. Watering every day can keep your soil constantly soggy.

• Thick mulch: Too much mulch can hold onto moisture and create a cool, damp environment just below the surface — prime real estate for earwigs and millipedes.

• Clogged gutters and poor drainage: If water is pooling near your foundation or flowing toward your house instead of away, it’s more than a water problem — it’s a bug problem, too.

• Tall grass or dense landscaping: This keeps soil shaded and humid, which makes it even harder to dry out.

Here’s What You Can Do:

Moisture is a magnet for pests — so the drier and more maintained your yard, the better. Try these steps:

• Mow your lawn regularly to keep it short and allow sunlight to reach the soil.

• Water deeply but less often — aim for that 1 inch per week. Water early in the morning to give your yard time to dry during the day.

• Thin out thick mulch and don’t let it pile up against your foundation.

• Clear leaves and organic debris from your yard, especially in shaded corners.

• Make sure your gutters are clean and downspouts direct water away from the house.

All of these small changes can help reduce the moisture pests need to survive — and make your property less inviting overall.

Bug Zone Handles the Bugs, So You Don’t Have To

While we can’t stop the rain or reroute your sprinkler system, we can take care of the pests that show up because of it.

Bug Zone offers safe, effective treatments that target chiggers, millipedes, and earwigs where they hide — no matter how damp it gets outside.  Our trained technicians know where these bugs breed and how to stop them from moving in.

Ready to show moisture pests the door? Call Bug Zone today and we’ll help you keep your yard comfortable — and bug-free.