Earwigs

What Is The Earwig?

The earwig is a small insect with horn-like appendages “cerci” on the abdomen and an elongated, smooth body. The earwig is a member of the Dermaptera family that utilizes its cerci for protection, foraging for food, and creating nests. The body is 1/3 inch in length, some with wings and others with no wings. Winged earwig species have two sets of membranous wings front and rear. All earwig species have not been shown to fly, including the winged species. The largest Dermapter species is the Saint Helena giant earwig that reportedly reaches 3 inches in length. The more than 900 members of the Dermaptera family are fond of the middle latitude temperate climate with clear-cut seasonal changes.

Why Is My Home Infested With Earwigs?

Homes with damp, dark rooms are prone to earwig infestations throughout the summer season. If your home is infested with earwigs, it is because it has the essentials and access points. This is very unfortunate but very common in homes with high humidity levels. Earwigs are opportunist insects, which means they capitalize on every opportunity to access the indoors during the summer season. Once the insect accesses the home, it will immediately start searching for a suitable location to build its nest. Earwig nests are more commonly found in high-humidity, dark areas in kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, basements, and crawlspaces. The earwig diet is comprised of plants and other small arthropods like fleas and mites. Some insects are notorious for joining forces with earwigs to infest residential and commercial settings.

Do Earwig Infestations Pose Health Risks to Humans or Animals?

Earwig infestations have not been connected to human diseases. However, they have been linked to devastatingly damaged plants in gardens and indoor pots. The insect’s tiny pincers are not strong enough to damage the skin of humans or animals. There is no known venous earwig species. There is no evidence that connects these tiny insects with human diseases and viruses. So, you should not freak out if you spot an earwig in your home. Your life is not in danger but there is a potential risk for your potted plants.

How To Eradicate Earwig Infestations?

The only way to eradicate an earwig infestation is to start with population control around the exterior of the infested home. While you are working on removing the earwig population around the perimeter of your home, it is crucial to focus on the high humidity levels in the interior of your home. You will need to tackle both of these issues simultaneously to maximize the results of your earwig eradication strategy. Combining a dehumidifier and improved air ventilation, it is possible to obtain and maintain optimal humidity levels in your home. Experts also recommend replacing mercury and neon vapor lighting with sodium vapor lighting with a yellow hue. This will help remove all bright light sources that have the potential to draw earwigs to your home right from the get-go.

When Should I Expect The Exterminator To Arrive At My Home In Charlotte?

Our Charlotte, North Carolina extermination team works around the clock to fight against earwig infestations. Our team is comprised of industry leaders who like to challenge themselves with some of the most difficult earwig infestations. We can dispatch one of these experts out to your home within 24 to 48 hours of your initial service request.

How To Prevent Earwig Infestations In The Future?

It is a fact that when a home is infested with earwigs or other insects, its pest barrier is no longer able to keep up. When this happens, it is crucial to take immediate action to take the necessary steps to repair the insect barrier. A residential pest barrier eliminates indoor access by creating a seal around doors, windows, garage doors, plumbing pipes, electrical wiring, and other vulnerable areas. As mentioned previously earwigs are drawn to mercury bright lighting, dampness, warmth, and darkness, all of which need to be eliminated. We recommend combining a dehumidifier with an improved ventilation system to combat humidity. These should further be combined with the effort to seal off all potential access points around doors, windows, and other vulnerable areas. Again, a pest infestation weakens your home’s pest barrier to the point of no return. Our job is to rebuild the pest barrier to prevent future infestations.

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