(Newswire.net — August 3, 2016) — Of all the pests and insects that can invade a household, few are creepier in appearance than earwigs. Most often dark brown in hue, earwigs carry pincers resembling forceps at their tail ends. Called cerci, these pincers are larger and curved in males while they are smaller and straight in females. With smooth, streamlined bodies, earwigs are an easy fit for crevices and cracks, and are attracted to damp, moist areas. Equally unsightly is their ability to grow up to 80 millimeters in length, no doubt adding to the revulsion of homeowners. With a double set of wings, they also can emit a foul stench when threatened. All in all, these are not creatures that can add value to the home.
How Do Earwigs Get into the House?
Believe it or not, earwigs have little interest in people. Their pincers and odor are mainly for practical and defensive purposes, namely against other earwigs. After wintering in underground burrows, females will lay eggs and briefly tend to the young nymphs before venturing back out into the world. Nocturnal creatures, they are nevertheless attracted to light, and will make their way to porches and patios in late spring and summer. There they will camp—perhaps under cushioned lawn chairs or umbrellas—leaving only to find plant food and smaller insects to eat. As the weather grows cooler and food sources dwindle, earwigs head for the indoors. Their flattened shapes ease the transition through the narrowest openings.
Earwigs and Infestation
As noted above, earwigs follow the water. Their first destinations are likely bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Yet their need for food may draw them into any other part of the house, including bedrooms. Protected from the elements, it is possible for them to lay eggs inside the house if there are many houseplants or other organic material. They do not, however, lay eggs inside the human ear—a widespread but baseless myth. The fact that they rarely appear in the daylight makes many homeowners unaware of their presence until infestation is upon them. Fortunately, corrective measures are available for earwig protection.
Prevention
The best way to keep earwigs outside is to give them no refuge, i.e. get rid of their hideouts.
-Create a wide buffer zone between the foundation of the house and habitats like firewood stacks, stone gardens and compost heaps.
-Give them little shade to exploit by keeping trees and shrubs properly pruned.
-See that the runoff from gutters and downspouts is always directed away from the house.
-Make exterior lights shine on the house.
-Repair any ruptures in screens.
-Keeping earwigs from getting close is key to keeping them from getting in.
Extermination
If earwigs have successfully penetrated the house, they have no doubt found numerous places to hide. Colonies of them can congregate in dark corners and can be vacuumed out. They may also gather behind heavy appliances like washing machines. Sometimes, however, their numbers and locations may be too great for residents to contend with. Seeking the assistance of a licensed pest protection technician like UltraPro Pest Protection can help to determine if pesticide application is necessary.
UltraPro Pest Protection
23 Bergenline Avenue
Westwood, NJ 07675
877-492-2252
http://ultrapropestcontrol.com
With over 30 years of experience in eliminating bed bugs, termites, and rodents, UltraPro Pest Protection is emerging as New York and New Jersey’s leading pest control service for homeowners and commercial businesses.
For more information, visit ultrapropestcontrol.com