What do earwigs look like?
Earwigs (pincher bugs) are a menacing looking pest because of its “cerci” or pincer-like appendages that come off the end of its abdomen. Female earwigs have a straight pair of cerci, while the males have a curved pair of appendages. Adult grow to be about 5/8th of an inch in length; they are dark brown to reddish-brown in color and have a flattened elongated body. Depending on the exact species earwigs can either be winged or wingless.
Are earwigs dangerous?
Earwigs are associated with a rumor that they crawl into the ears of people while they are sleeping in order to bore holes into their brains to lay their eggs; when in reality earwigs are simply a nuisance pest and offer no significant health risks to people. While earwigs are equipped with “pinchers”, they really pose no danger to people; their cerci are used to defend themselves against each other and really aren’t strong enough to cause any pain in people.
Why are earwigs in my home?
Earwigs are nocturnal creatures and are typically found living outdoors in damp, dark areas like underneath of rocks, mulch, landscaping ties, piles of grass or leaves, and in other similar areas. They emerge from their hiding spots at night to feed on other insects and decaying plant materials. Earwigs found living outside of your home in large populations may make their way inside when the temperature outside becomes too high or too dry for their liking. Inside they can be found in basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, underneath of potted plants, or even living inside of stacks of newspapers or magazines. Along with entering into your home on your own they can be brought inside on packages, lawn furniture, or potted plants.
How do you get rid of earwigs?
Earwigs can enter into homes in large numbers, and because of their nocturnal nature it can make finding and eliminating all of them from your home a very tedious and frustrating task. At Spencer Pest Services we can get rid of earwigs from your property through our year-round residential pest control packages. Our pest control professionals have the experience and training needed to control earwigs in and around your home, and prevent future problems with them. Contact us today for more information about our earwig control services.
Acrobat ant prevention tips
Along with putting into place a pest control program, there are several things you can do in and around your home to prevent and deter acrobat ants. Prevention tips include:
- Make sure that outdoor trash cans have tight-fitting lids and are stored away from the outside of your home.
- Trim back trees, bushes, and shrubs away from the outside of your home.
- Seal cracks and crevices found in your home’s foundation; caulk gaps found around windows and doors.
- Fill in the spaces found around utilities entering into your home.
- Install door sweeps underneath all exterior doors.
- Inside your home routinely wash dirty dishes, quickly clean up spills and crumbs, and store food air-tight containers.
To learn how Spencer Pest Services can eliminate acrobat ants from your Greenville, Upstate of South Carolina, or northern Georgia property, call us today.