Earwigs, I don’t think anyone likes these bugs! Perhaps one of the most disturbing-looking insects around are earwigs, sporting a pair of massive pincers, they look quite intimidating! However, the truth is that they are quite harmless, and they don’t have much incentive to crawl in your ears to lay eggs, that’s an old wives tale.
Preferred Habitat
Earwigs like to live in dark, damp, and sheltered places…which in practice means in concrete cracks and crevices, in and under trees (they love apricot trees for some reason!), under flower pots, and in garden mulch. They are also attracted to moist areas within your home like bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms, and water closets.
Do Earwigs Build Nests?
Earwigs don’t live in colonies, but they often end up living in groups as they are all going to be attracted to the same very localized area. As such it’s not uncommon to see dozens or even hundreds of earwigs skittering up a tree or out of a crack when we spray.
Do They Pinch?
One of the most notable features of an earwig are those big pincers at their rear, called “cerci“. Many insects actually have cerci as well, but they’re small sensory organs. Earwig cerci, however, have evolved into long, jointed pincers that they can use for many things. You might assume that those pincers can deliver a nasty pinch! They can, but earwigs rarely pinch humans. Instead their pincers are used for all sorts of things like fighting other earwigs for dominance, holding prey in place, and even mating rituals.
Diet
Earwigs are omnivores, which means they can eat pretty much anything, but will typically eat plants and other insects. If they’re in your house, they’re probably in search of moisture. They don’t seem to be as interested in sugar and grease as other insects…plant matter and smaller insects makes up the majority of their diet.
Get Rid of Them!
But whatever they’re after, all I know is I don’t want them around. If you’re looking to rid yourself of an earwig problem give Newby’s Pest • Lawn • Weeds a call today at 435-586-7337 and we’ll make those earwigs go away! Or click the button below to schedule online:
