A lot of people are instantly creeped out by earwigs. Some even mistakenly believe that earwigs will enter their ears during the night because of the insect’s affinity for moist, dark places. However, the tale of earwigs infesting the ears of unsuspecting people is nothing more than a tall tale. Despite their ominous pinchers, earwigs are not dangerous to humans.
There are over 2,000 species of earwigs around the world. Even though earwigs are harmless, the chances are good that you don’t want them in your home. Naturally nocturnal, earwigs like to roam at night in search of food. They are normally drawn to dark moist areas so they often enter your bathroom through gaps in the caulking, around drains, or under doorways. In cold areas of the country, earwigs frequently enter a building in search of warmth and a safe place to hibernate.
Earwigs pose no danger to your garden plants or lawn. They normally dine on insects, larvae, spiders, and decaying plant vegetation. However, if you have a thriving landscape, the earwig population can grow substantially and you might start to find the insects inside your home.
Caulking and sealing around doors and windows will help keep earwigs from entering your residence. You should also make sure your windows are fitted with screens.
Earwigs are drawn to moist areas to sleep during the day. If you do not have sufficient drainage around your home it is not uncommon to find large populations of them near your foundation, in your crawl space, or residing within the dark confines of your basement during the daylight hours.
If you feel like you are being overran by earwigs in your house, please call Consolidated Pest Control to discuss our control options. Our pest control professionals can safely and quickly control the overpopulation of earwigs in and around your home with various options such as lawn spraying.
