How to Get Rid of Earwigs in Your House

Isolated earwigHere in New Jersey, we have to deal with many different types of insects on a regular basis. But one of the lesser-known (and stranger-looking) bugs here is the earwig.

This article addresses the topic of earwigs around the house and earwig infestations so you know how to handle these bugs when you see them.

 

What Are Earwigs?

Earwigs are insects with six legs, two antennae, and pinchers coming out from their abdomens. They are odd-looking insects that can be intimidating and are between 5 and 25 millimeters long.

There are at least 20 types of earwigs in the U.S. These insects live in large groups, and only some of them have wings. They prefer cool and moist places to live, often coming out at night to feed. Earwigs eat both plants and other insects and gravitate toward crawl spaces and damp basements. These bugs are also attracted to lights, so you might find them around your porch lights on summer evenings.

 

Risks of the Earwig Bug

There are some terrifying myths surrounding earwigs, such as that they lay eggs in humans’ ears and can eat through brain matter! However, there is no truth to these myths, as the risks they pose are quite mild by comparison.

Earwigs can use those pinchers to pinch humans, but they don’t bite. They are also not known to spread bacteria or diseases. However, earwigs are still a nuisance and not a bug you want living around your home. They can find cracks and gaps in houses and come inside where they aren’t welcome. Since they eat plants, earwigs can cause problems for gardeners by eating things you’ve planted to eat and enjoy looking at.

 

How to Get Rid of Earwigs

The rules for keeping your home free of earwigs are similar to those for avoiding most kinds of pests in our area. If you’re looking for answers about how to get rid of earwigs, make sure to fix any leaky drains and pipes to reduce the amount of moisture settling around your home. It’s also a smart idea to remove leaf and wood piles from the outdoor areas around the house because earwigs like to take up residence in these places.

Cleaning your gutters and drain pipes, as well as trimming bushes and trees, are great preventative measures to take when you want to avoid an earwig infestation. Avoid laying mulch down that’s over two inches deep and decorating your yard with stones for them to hide under. Always keep grass and bushes at least a foot away from the foundation of your house to serve as a barrier between natural insect habitats and your home.

 

Dealing with an Earwig Infestation

If you are already discovering earwigs around your property this summer, Precise Termite & Pest Control can help. Our highly skilled and trained exterminators are experienced with working with these specific types of insects and know the best ways to get them out of your home and keep them from coming back.

We offer free inspections and have decades of experience keeping our local communities earwig-free. Contact us at 866-971-2847 to learn more about our earwig extermination services or to schedule us to come out to your home to take care of an earwig issue.