Earwigs are misunderstood in some respects, but in others they are still pests. They can look pretty scary with those pincer-like appendages at their rear. Their name, which can still evoke a sense of the creepy-crawlies even after you know the truth about them, is due to the fact that people used to think these insects would crawl into people’s ears. However, that is completely untrue.
In fact, earwigs don’t really do much at all when it comes to humans. Their pincers are for grabbing potential prey, not for attacking people. Earwigs are much more likely to run for their lives when a human comes their way. They also won’t be digging into your kitchen pantry anytime soon. This is because earwigs eat plants and other insects. Birds enjoy eating earwigs as well, so if you see birds hanging around your home and notice them eating earwigs, you can thank the birds for their efforts and may want to contact a pest control company to check your property for an earwig infestation.
Despite the fact that they don’t do any real damage to homes, you still don’t want an infestation of earwigs. They can become a nuisance with their numbers as well as lure in other potential pests such as spiders and other bugs that eat earwigs. You may have an earwig problem if you continue to see them in all sorts of locations, or multiple earwigs in one location. Earwigs like damp areas so any place where there is water you are likely to have earwigs. When you disturb an area that covers them, they will scatter.
They are nocturnal, but you might still spot one during the day. They can move into homes when the weather changes, so you may very well see more when winter comes along. They will seek out warmer places to stay, so check locations with water present to see if any earwigs have moved in. For a more definitive answer on your earwig issue, contact a pest control business.
Earwigs don’t need to be in your home. They are only there for the shelter, but there is plenty of room for them outside. Talk to the pest technician after his or her evaluation and discuss what can be done to get rid of the earwigs as well as preventing them from appearing again. It may be as simple as stopping up a cracked pipe or filling in a crevice in your home.