Earwigs

What Are Earwigs?

The small insect hailing from the Dermapter family with smooth elongated bodies and forceps-like abdominals is known as the earwig. The forceps-like abdominal section is commonly referred to as the cerci and is more like a pincher than anything else. While an extremely distinctive part of the bug, it will only be the males with the more dominant. The male’s cerci are larger and more curved. If that isn’t interesting enough, you should be aware of the fact that these critters can also possess wings. Some will have wings and some will not, but neither choose to fly. Even the earwigs with the wings will not fly.

Their bodies are reddish to dark brown in appearance and can range anywhere from a quarter to ½ inch in length. That being said, there are one species known as the Helena Giant Earwig that can reach nearly 3 inches long. While there are over 900 different species of earwigs, the biggest portion of them is found in warmer climates. While there are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding these bugs, it is the one about them laying eggs in a human’s brain that is the most well-known. People have said for years that the earwigs enter the body through the ear where they will travel to the brain and lay eggs. This is how they got their name.

Why Is My Home Infected With Earwigs?

As you just learned from above, earwigs prefer warmer climates. It is rare to find them in cooler climates and this is why they invade most homes or buildings before the winter months. In addition to warm climates, they are also drawn to dark and damp areas. That being said, they are nocturnal and spend the biggest portion of their days cowering in small, dark places. Basements, bathrooms, and kitchens make the perfect living areas for these critters.

Interestingly enough, these critters like to feed on plants as well as arthropods like mites and fleas. If you have a mite and flea infestation, earwigs won’t be far behind. If you house indoor plants, there’s a good chance you might develop an earwigs problem. At the very least, you’ll be a more likely candidate.

Are Earwigs A Threat?

In the grand scheme of things, earwigs are considered a nuisance more than anything else. They do have those cerci that are like pinchers. They have even been reported to pinch a human or two, but they don’t even posse the strength to break the skin. Even if they did, you still wouldn’t have to worry about disease or venom because the critter doesn’t possess either. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t have a destructive side. They do, and they will do great damage to delicate houseplants and gardens. If you have specialty blooms, they are at risk from earwigs.

How Do You Get Rid Of Earwigs?

When it comes to earwigs, you have to start with the outside population. These bugs are entering the home from the outside so if you don’t do anything to reduce the outside population, you aren’t helping your cause any. Earwigs are attracted to moisture and bright lights around windows and doors. While it is hard to eliminate lights around windows and doors, one of the best tactics is to utilize sodium vapor yellow lights. These lights are much less attractive than your bright white light. Utilizing these lights outside on the porch or in your exterior rooms will go a long way to preventing earwigs.

Along with this, you’ll have to limit the potential entry points by sealing all cracks ad crevices in the foundation. Sealing all the holes and gaps in your structure will help limit the possibility of an earwig infestation.

How Soon Can Help Get Here?

While earwigs are more of a nuisance than anything, it doesn’t make living with them any easier. Luckily, we have the solution you and your building need. Whether you just have more questions about earwigs or want to book an in-home appointment, you can give our offices a call. Although we stay busy year-round, we’ll do our best to get someone out to your property within at least 24 to 48 hours after making contact.

Do You Offer Safe Treatment Solutions?

Whenever possible, we try to utilize natural pest solutions. Unfortunately, this just isn’t always possible. Regardless of the situation, we always take every precaution necessary when dealing with chemicals. We not only make sure chemicals are handled in the safest manner possible, but we make sure only EPA-certified techs handle and administer these chemicals. Call our offices to learn more about our eco-friendly solutions. If pesticides are the solution for your earwig infestation, we’ll make sure we handle the situation with the most caution possible.

Give our offices a call now to discover more! Perhaps, you just have a question? Whatever the situation is, we have an in-house rep standing by ready to assist.

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