What Are Earwigs and How Do I Get Them Out of My Jerome Home?

Earwigs have narrow, oval-shaped bodies that are usually reddish-brown to black with a pair of antennae extending from their heads. However, their most prominent feature is the pair of pincers that come out of their abdomen.

Luckily, these insects prefer to live outdoors where they are usually found living under rocks, leaves, or firewood. But, they do get inside as they search for shelter from harsh temperatures or while hunting their smaller pest prey. Once indoors, earwigs are usually seen in dark areas such as under cabinets or scuttling across baseboards.

Are Earwigs Dangerous?

Given the notable pincers the earwigs have at the end of their bodies, many people are concerned that earwigs are dangerous or that they can inflict painful bites. But, the truth is that earwigs are mostly considered a nuisance pest. While earwigs can pinch you, it is rarely painful and usually doesn’t break the skin. Earwigs also aren’t known to spread any diseases to people or pets.

The other common myth about earwigs is that they crawl into ears to lay eggs in people’s brains, but this isn't true at all. Earwigs don’t lay their eggs inside human bodies, and if they do make their way inside of an ear, it isn’t on purpose. Earwigs are no more likely to crawl into ears or mouths than any other insect.

Earwig Prevention Steps

Overall, the best way to prevent earwigs is to address moisture problems both inside and outside of your home as they prefer damp environments. The following steps can help you reduce the factors that attract earwigs:

• Keep firewood stored at least 30 feet away from your home in a dry area as earwigs often live in woodpiles.
• Fix broken plumbing and ensure basements and crawl spaces have good ventilation.
  Also, consider using dehumidifiers in areas of your home that have an excess of moisture.
• Regularly remove leaf piles, mulch, and grass clippings to reduce humidity around your yard. And, make sure gutters are clean so rainwater drains and doesn’t create standing water.
• To make it harder for earwigs to get inside, fill up cracks in the walls and foundation using foam or caulk products.
• You can also make it more difficult for earwigs to get inside by installing door sweeps and weather stripping.
• Lastly, if you have screens in doors or windows, make sure to fix or replace any that are broken or torn.
• As with any pest, preventing earwigs from getting into your home in the first place is far easier than eliminating them after the fact.

Get The Best Earwig Control In Idaho

While earwigs aren’t a dangerous pest, they are still unpleasant to have around. If you’ve been noticing more earwigs around your Jerome property, the experts at Owyhee Environmental can handle the problem effectively and keep these pests from coming back.

It’s easy to get started as we offer free quotes, so contact us today to learn more about our residential and commercial earwig control options. These ongoing plans also keep many other pest species away.