Earwigs
About
What are earwigs?
Earwigs are not the dangerous creature that many people in Baton Rouge believe them to be. Earwigs do not crawl into people's ears at night while they sleep. The myth associated with earwigs is entirely false. Earwigs are nuisance pests that, while annoying to deal with, do not use people’s ears to lay eggs.
Earwigs have a long, slender body that is a reddish-brown color, and most species have wings. The pincer-like appendage (cerci) that extends off their abdomen is typically their most identifying feature. Their pincers are a vital part of their anatomy as they are used to catch prey and to defend against each other and other insects. Their pincers are not strong enough to cause harm to people.
Earwigs are nocturnal, they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. These scavengers feed on the insects and plant matter that they come across.
Are earwigs dangerous?
Earwigs are mostly harmless to people, the structure of our homes, and our belongings. However, you should always address their presence in or around your home.
The presence of earwigs is often an indicator of an underlying moisture problem. Earwigs are highly attracted to areas of moisture; things like leaky pipes and drainage issues may be the cause of your pest problem.
Why do I have an earwig problem?
Moisture is what attracts these pests to properties. Things like leaky pipes or air conditioners, drippy hoses, clogged gutters, and overwatered gardens attract these insects. Mulch piles, brush piles, and leaf piles trap moisture and also attract earwigs. If earwigs are living near your home, it is common for them to move inside through spaces in the foundation, under doors, or through torn screens.
Where will I find earwigs?
Outside, earwigs live in the moist soil found in gardens, under shrubbery, in wooded areas, and under piles of leaves or other debris. Earwigs create burrows in the ground to lay their eggs and to overwinter as adults.
Often earwigs live in the soil in gardens and landscaped areas that surround the foundation of our homes and garages. This proximity allows them to move inside easily, usually, if the weather outside becomes too hot and dry.
Inside, earwigs congregate in dark, damp areas:
- Basements, crawlspaces
- Areas around drains or sump pumps
- Under kitchen or bathroom sinks
How do I get rid of earwigs?
Eliminate earwigs and other common Louisiana pests from your residential or commercial property with the help of River City Termite & Pest Control. We offer personalized services you can count on to eliminate problems with pests and keep them from returning.
Get rid of earwigs from your property by reaching out to River City Termite & Pest Control. We are happy to work with you to ensure that your Baton Rouge area home or business is kept free of earwigs. To learn more about our home pest control or commercial pest control services, give us a call today!
How can I prevent earwigs in the future?
Help keep earwigs out of your home with the help of the following, easy-to-implement earwig prevention tips:
- Keep the soil around the perimeter of your home as dry as possible to deter these pests from living there. Make sure gutters are working to direct water away from the outside of your home. Cut back shrubbery and bushes away from the exterior of your home.
- Inspect the foundation and exterior doors, sealing any gaps found to help stop earwigs from wiggling their way into your home.
- Remove woodpiles, leaf debris, and other clutter from your yard where earwigs can hide.
- Rake mulch and leaves back away from your home’s foundation. Leave a 12 to 18 inch barrier between the foundation and soil or mulch.
- Keep gutters free of leaves, sticks, and other debris.
- Keep humidity levels in your home low by using dehumidifiers and air conditioners. Kitchens and bathrooms should have ventilating fans.