Earwigs

Even if they’re harmless to humans, earwigs are never an insect pest you want to find in your home. Earwigs thrive in dark, moist environments and feed on both decaying and live vegetation, making them harmful to houseplants or gardens if allowed to thrive. They are most active at night and can be found hiding under rocks or logs during the daytime. The earwig is well-known for the myth that it will burrow into people’s ears while they sleep (though rest assured, this has no scientific basis).

How to Identify Earwigs

Adult earwigs range from about 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch in length. They have long slender bodies, two pairs of wings, and pincers coming from their abdomen. Earwigs can be intimidating to look at and may pinch if provoked, but they are not poisonous or a vector for disease.

There are several signs that could indicate earwigs have invaded your home. For instance, you might catch a whiff of a foul smell, as earwigs can produce a yellowish-brown secretion when they are crushed or threatened. Be sure to check areas that earwigs thrive in, such as near night lights, around plants or leaves, or in cold, moist locations like the basement or bathroom. If you find that your plants have mysterious chunks missing, it may be from a feasting earwig!

How to Prevent Earwigs in Arizona

Preventing an earwig problem at your home doesn’t have to be a major undertaking. The biggest key to controlling earwigs is eliminating their hiding places and food sources. This can include:

Clearing out dead leaves and other natural debris, such as old wood, near the base of your house makes it less likely that earwigs will be drawn there in the first place.
Filling in cracks and holes in the foundation makes it harder for pests to slip inside.
Using a dehumidifier in areas of the home that are naturally moist, such as the basement, makes the space less appealing to earwigs.
Clearing out your gutters and drainpipes removes ideal environments for earwigs to thrive among collections of dead leaves or other natural materials.
Moving or removing outdoor lighting that is directed at your house may help in keeping pests away, as earwigs are naturally attracted to lights.

Let Burns Pest Eliminate Your Earwig Infestation

If you are seeing a large number of earwigs in your home or business and don’t know what to do, our team at Burns Pest Elimination is there to help when you need it most. Serving the Peoria, Phoenix, Tucson, and Las Vegas areas for more than 35 years, our pest control experts will work with you until your pest problem subsides. To set up your consultation for earwig control, give us a call or request a free quote online today!

We provide earwig removal services in the following locations:

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