If you come across one earwig in your house, there’s a good chance there are more scattered everywhere. These insects don’t cause any harm to humans and will not damage the structural integrity of your home. But they swarm into homes during the summer, and it can be unsettling to see them everywhere. If you’re having this problem, you might wonder: “where do earwigs come from, and how can I get rid of them?”
Use our guide to find out where these creatures come from and how you can get rid of them in your home.
Earwigs are part of the Dermaptera insect order and have about 2,000 species in 12 families. They are usually dark red-brown, with a size of between five and 16 millimeters long as adults. Young earwigs are around five millimeters.
Earwigs have pale-yellow legs and wings, with thick and short forewings covering the hind wings. The notable feature of earwigs is the pincer located on its abdomen, called cerci. You might notice earwigs climbing to high places in your home. They also prefer to run around from one place to another.
Earwigs are nocturnal insects that hide in moist, small cracks during the day. At night, they are active. What do earwigs eat? They will feed on decaying organic matter, rotting wood, and different kinds of insects, plants, and flowers.
If you have your plants damaged, earwigs might be the culprit. You can use the Sevin Spray to keep your garden insect-free.
Earwigs don’t bite humans Trusted Source Earwig Bite: In Your Ear, Symptoms, and Images Earwigs can bite people, but they rarely do. Instead, they’re more likely to pinch your skin and hold on tight. Here’s what to do if you get pinched. www.healthline.com except as a defense mechanism, and won’t consume your blood like a mosquito, despite the scary pincers.
Now that you know what these pesky insects are, you might ask, where do earwigs come from in my house? Earwigs can come from anywhere outdoors. They might be in your yard or garden, in the cracks of your building, and in rotting wood or construction materials around your house.
Earwigs can get into your house by hiding in plants, lumber, cracks, and even in your shoes. As time goes on, they multiply. To prevent their infestation you can use the PT Phantom II.
Earwigs can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
Experts believe that earwigs came to America through the plant nursery trade between European countries and America. It was first found in North America in 1907.
The European earwig Trusted Source Earwig - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org is the most common type of earwig found in homes. It originated from Europe as the name implies, but is also native to western Asia and northern Africa.
Earwigs can be attracted to your home if it is hospitable for them. So what attracts earwigs?
The main reason why earwigs will enter your home is food opportunities and offering a moist safe place for them to live. Earwigs will eat whatever live and dead plants and insects they find in your house.
Harsh weather conditions like extreme cold or heat can make earwigs attracted to your home as they stay in places that are temperature-friendly. Since they can fit in very tiny cracks, they will quickly multiply. You can find them in the bathroom or kitchen, where they have easy access to food or water, and near doorways like your front or back door.
Earwigs seek moisture, and this can attract them to your house. They will seek out moist places in your home, like under stones and tree barks, in your bathroom, and under sinks. They are also attracted to tight spots, like under the floorboards and small cracks in the foundation. If you have a damp basement in your house, you most likely have earwigs hiding there.
Also, you might have earwigs in your house when there is a lot of garbage and refuse, including piles of vegetation, leaves, and mulch. You might have earwigs when there are many crumbs and spilled food on the countertops and cupboards. However, using the Talstar P you can keep earwigs and other pests away from your home.
Now that you know the answer to “where do earwigs come from”, you need to figure out how to get rid of them. You can consider buying the best earwig killers. But for minor infestations, you can deter earwigs in different ways. These include:
Now that we’ve offered an answer to the question “where do earwigs come from”, and suggested several ways how you can get rid of them, you can take care of any infestation. These pesky insects won’t cause severe damage, but they can be annoying and unclean in your house. They can also damage your garden and eat your crops. You can prevent them from coming into your house by sealing cracks and entries, using natural scents or the Nature – Cide Pest Management X2, and making your home inhospitable for them.