Earwigs vary in size, growing between ¼ to one inch. They have dark brown bodies that are long, flat, and narrow and can have black or reddish-brown markings. Earwigs have six legs, two antennae, and a set of formidable-looking pincers on their hind ends. Some earwig species have wings and can fly in short bursts, but none are strong fliers.
Centuries ago, people named earwigs based on a disturbing myth. They believed these pests crawled into people’s ears while they slept, then tunneled into their brains to lay eggs. Although this tale is pure fiction, it still lingers today.
Thankfully, you can rest easy knowing that even if you see earwigs in your house, you don’t have to worry about them crawling into your ears or digging tunnels into your brain. They do not do this and never have.
You now know that earwigs don’t get into people’s brains, but are there other ways earwigs are harmful? Thankfully, they are not known to cause any health problems for humans. They don’t spread diseases, and although they can use their pincers on people, they rarely do. Even if you get pinched, it’s not likely hard enough to break the skin.
Some earwig species produce a secretion that has a foul odor. In rare cases, this liquid can irritate the skin, but most people do not react if they come into contact with it.
Earwigs cause the worst damage to garden plants. They eat the leaves, stems, flowers, and other parts of plants, causing damage that can kill them.
Outside, earwigs live in dark, moist areas, like under piles of leaves, mulch, or in holes in trees. When they get inside, they also seek out moist areas. You are most likely to find them in the most humid areas of your house, including crawl spaces, bathrooms, and the kitchen. They may live under sinks, behind baseboards, in carpets, or the soil of houseplants.
Earwigs enter homes when they cannot meet their basic needs outside. If they have trouble finding food, they may get inside while looking for a new food source. If the weather suddenly turns too hot, cold, wet, or dry, they might make their way indoors looking for relief. It’s also possible for earwigs to get inside by mistake. They are attracted to light, so they can sometimes get inside by following a light source.
Earwigs often hide in out-of-the-way areas where they are not readily apparent. They also tend to live in large groups, so when you see one, others are nearby. Because of this, it’s best not to try to get rid of earwigs on your own. You may be able to take care of some of the pests you find, but you’re unlikely to eliminate the infestation.
The best way to eliminate earwigs is to get professional pest control from Anti-Pesto Bug Killers. Our local pest control company offers home pest control that is family-friendly, thorough, and designed around your needs. With four different treatment plans available, you can choose the right service for you. We also have over 30 years of pest control experience in the Tampa Bay area, so you can be sure we know how to eliminate your earwig problem.
If you’d like to avoid ending up with creepy earwigs in your house, there are several things you can do to make it less likely that they’ll get inside. These prevention techniques will help:
When you combine these prevention methods with routine home pest control from Anti-Pesto, you can be sure to keep your home earwig-free.
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Jim J.
Largo, FL
We had a wasp infestation in our backyard shed. Anti-Pesto responded immediately and were out to our place within about two hours and took care of everything thoroughly. They will even follow-up again within two weeks to be sure that the problem does not recur. They are awesome!
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Largo, FL
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Trish N.
Tampa, FL
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