Earwigs are little insects that are attracted to moisture. There are 22 species of earwigs in the United States, although only four or five of them are household earwigs that you may find on your property. Let’s go over some basic identifiers of earwigs that we can be on the lookout for.
- Color: They are usually dark brown or black in color, and sometimes have a reddish tint the them or red stripes across their body.
- Body: Earwigs are medium-sized insects with flat bodies. There are 3 segments to their body, and they have wings, but they seldom fly.
- Appendages: They have two antennae, six legs, and two appendages that stick out of their abdomen. These are called cerci or pincers; they are forceps that earwigs use to defend themselves.
Now that we’re a little more familiar with what earwigs look like, let’s talk about some other interesting earwig facts. Here are three things that all property owners in New Braunfels should know about earwigs.
- There is a common myth that claims that earwigs like to burrow into human ears and lay eggs in your brain. Despite their name, which may support the myth, it’s not true. They do not nest in human ears, so we can all cross that off our list of concerns.
- Earwigs are attracted to humid places that are dark and damp. You’ll usually find them under rocks, piles of decaying matter or lawn debris, bags of dirt, fertilizer, mulch, and inside tree holes.
- Even though they are harmful pests, earwigs cannot hurt you. They do not sting, nor are they poisonous; they do sometimes use their pincers to pinch you if they feel threatened, however.
These are just some earwig fun facts to keep in mind. While it’s nice to know that earwigs pose no real health threat to human beings, that doesn’t mean that they’re completely consequence-free. So, why should you be worried? Great question.
Earwigs are moisture pests, meaning they need moisture to survive. They’re often attracted to sources of excess moisture, mold, moisture damage, rotting and damaged wood. So, what may seem like some casual earwig activity may indicate a larger moisture problem that you should address.
How To Reduce Your Exposure To Earwigs
If you want to be proactive in your efforts to keep earwigs out of your home or business, there are some things you can do. To reduce the chances of an earwig infestation, you can try the following preventative measures.
- Clean the yard of organic debris, branches, leaves, etc.
- Clean your rain gutters and make sure they function properly.
- Don’t allow shrubbery to touch the structural foundation of your house.
- Keep outside lights off at night as it will attract earwigs.
- Maintain minimal mulch in and around your yard.
- Reduce moisture around the home by setting up dehumidifiers in damp areas.
- Reduce the presence of stones in your yard where earwigs like to hide.
- Remove any rotting wood from your property.
- Repair leaky faucets or faulty drains and plumbing.
- Seal off any cracks or points of entry around the perimeter of the house.
- Store food in tightly sealed containers and don’t leave any pet food or water outside overnight.
- Vacuum regularly and promptly wipe up any spills from the stove top or counter.
If you’re looking for 100% effective, reliable protection from earwigs and other pests, the smartest thing you can do is call on the pest experts. Here at Pinnacle Pest Defense, we offer comprehensive earwig detection, elimination, and prevention services that our valued customers can rely on all year long.
Reach out to us to discuss your home pest control or commercial pest control needs today, and we’ll get the ball rolling.
