Earwigs

What Are Earwigs?

Small insects of the Dermaptera family with smooth, elongated bodies, forcep-like abdominals, and a length of 1/3 inches long are the earwigs. The forcep-like abdominals are also sometimes referred to as cerci. These are like pinchers that are more curved on the male species than the female. While both the male and female do posse wings, they rarely choose to fly. Their front and hind wings are leathery and membranous while their bodies are smooth and elongated. With reddish-brown bodies, these insects don’t have a problem standing out amongst the masses. There are over 900 known species, but it is the Helena Giant Earwig that is the biggest. It can grow to reach 3 inches in length.

While there are a variety of species, most of these will be found in warmer climates. There is a lot known about these creatures, but there are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding them. Starting with, they burrow into human ears and lay eggs.

What Do People Have Earwigs?

It will only be during the hot and dry summer months that you find the earwigs migrating indoors. This is because they prefer warmer temperatures. Although this is the case, they are still somewhat attracted to dark and damp areas. Warm, dark, and damp areas provide the perfect breeding environment for these critters. In these areas, they’ll thrive and reproduce to the fullest of their capabilities. Basements, bathrooms, and kitchens all offer the perfect living conditions for these critters. As far as nutrition goes, they feed during the evening hours of plants and other arthropods, including mites and fleas. If you are suffering a flea or mites infestation, earwigs won’t likely be far behind.

Are Earwigs A Threat?

Earwigs are considered a nuisance pest more than anything. They do have the cerci that are like a pinching device, but even in the rare cases when they do pinch, these critters do produce enough force to puncture the skin. In addition to this, they don’t produce venom. So, what is it that makes them a nuisance? It is because they can wreak havoc on gardens and household plants. If you have sensitive, delicate blooms, the earwigs will destroy them, given the change. They have also been known to feed on decaying organic material, which is a whole different problem in itself.

How Do I Get Rid Of Earwigs?

If you want to eliminate the earwig population in your home or building, you are going to have to start outside. These bugs are coming from the outdoors in and starting with the population out here will help you control and reduce your overall problem. Earwigs are highly attracted to light and moisture, so these will be other areas you want to consider. Porch lights, underdeck lights, or anything of this nature might be attractive, but they could be contributing to your earwig problem.

One of the best ways to eliminate this and still lighting up your areas is by utilizing sodium vapor yellow lights. These insects are much less attracted to this quality of light. You do this along with limiting the possible entry points for these bugs, and you’ll have your infestation cleared up in no time at all. Seal all unnecessary holes and gaps in your foundation or structure. This is also something that our pest management team can help with.

When Can You Get Here?

We not only offer earwig treatment, but we handle a wide range of pests. This keeps us pretty busy all hours of the year. However, we are always more than willing to help our customers when and where we can. Whether you just have earwig questions, concerns, or want to schedule an in-home assessment, you can give us a call today. Expect someone to be out at the property within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Do You Offer Safe Treatment Options

You’ll find that pesticides are the number one go-to treatment for earwigs. This is because they have proven to be extremely effective over the years. The only problem is, such pesticides can be hazardous to the environment. This is always a cause for concern. If pets of kids are in the home it only makes matters worse. This is why we have started offering eco-friendly options. While eco-friendly options aren’t viable in every situation, we always take proper precautions when handling hazardous materials. We make sure to utilize EPA certified and trained techs.

Is It Possible To Prevent Future Infestations

Preventing any kind of pest from invading your property can be a challenge. That being said, earwigs might be more challenging than most. This is because it’s a means of survival for them. They do not want to be in your home. It’s only a need for them. Earwigs are highly attracted to light and moisture as well as dark and damp, which makes them an even more complex critter. All in all, there are things you can do to mitigate your risks of an infestation. You might not be able to prevent one entirely, but you can mitigate them. The best place to start is by eliminating excess water and moisture in unwanted areas. From here, you’ll want to seal cracks and crevices in the foundation.

And, don’t forget to change out your outside lighting. While these are not surefire methods for pest prevention, we are always more than willing to work with our customers to help them devise prevention plans. After successfully eliminating these critters from your property, we’ll help you come up with a prevention plan that’ll keep your property free of earwigs for the foreseeable future. All you have to do is give us a call!

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