This month we’re featuring a lesser known but still annoying pest, the Earwig.
While some may not have seen or heard of the earwig, other than the infamous myth, they are in fact real. But no, they do not crawl in your ear to suck out your brain. However, they are nocturnal and do like dark environments, so crawling in an ear is a possibility. Fortunately, the likelihood of that happening is the same as with any other nocturnal household pest.
They are still annoying to see crawling around in your home, and can do quite a bit of damage to the plants in your garden. They also secrete a foul-smelling liquid when alarmed, similar to stink bugs.
There are 10 native species of earwigs in the United States. However, it’s a non-native earwig, the European earwig (Forficula auricularia), that most of us in North America will encounter.
Features
- Dark brown to reddish-brown elongated body
- Slender antennae and biting mouth parts
- Large pincers at the end of the abdomen
Fun Facts
- They are very protective and meticulous mothers, which is rare among insects, especially non-social ones.
- Young earwigs get ready to leave the nest by eating their mother.
- This practice of eating one’s mother, practiced by other insects as well, is called matriphagy.
- The largest earwig ever found was called the giant earwig (also known as the St. Helena earwig) and it was more than three inches in length. This earwig was found only on the small St. Helena Island in the Atlantic and has not been seen again since 1967.
Prevention
These pests get into your home the same way most do, through tiny cracks and crevices that appear in or around your foundation.
- Seal up cracks in your foundation or walls.
- Caulk windows.
- Use wire mesh to cover any large openings.
- Prevent standing water by keeping up the gutter maintenance and making sure there aren’t any water issues around the outside of your home.
- Run a dehumidifier and keep your basement floor clean.
- Use weather strips to seal up door gaps.
After all these items are implemented, the next step would be a preventative spray. By regularly deterring pests around the outside of your home you are setting yourself up for a pest-free year. Call us today to find out about our monthly treatment plans. Or, if you are already seeing signs of a pest infestation, call for a free no-pressure inspection.
At Romans Pest Management, we know that people tend to wait until they have exhausted all options before resorting to a professional. We get it! But, like most other professions, we’ll be the first to say, don’t wait! Instead of wasting time and money on over-the-counter products that are ineffective or wrong for the job, just give us a call to get it done right the first time. We’ll come out and do a FREE no-pressure inspection. If you’re not happy with the estimated amount, we’ll leave, no harm done.
Conveniently located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Romans Pest Management serves the whole Tri-State area, including Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana.