Earwigs

What do earwigs look like?

Earwigs have a long narrow body, are reddish brown and grow to be about 5/8th of an inch in length.  Their most distinctive feature is the two “cerci” (pinchers) that extend off of their hind end.  Males have curved cerci and females have straight cerci; these cerci are used to defend themselves against each other. 

Why do earwigs infest structures?

Like silverfish and other occasional invaders, earwigs typically live outside but often make their way inside when the weather doesn’t suit their needs; if the temperature becomes too high or if the weather is very dry.  Earwigs enter into homes through cracks in the foundation or underneath exterior doors.  They may also be accidentally introduced on newspapers and in boxes, potted plants, and other items that come in from outside.

Do earwigs bite?

No, earwigs do not have biting mouthparts and, therefore, are not capable of biting.

Are earwigs dangerous?

No, earwigs are not considered to be dangerous.  Earwigs do have pinchers that they use to defend themselves but those pinchers are not strong enough to cause pain or harm to people.  

A urban legend has earwigs crawling into people’s ears at night while they are asleep and burrowing in their brain in order lay eggs.  An interesting story but completely false.  Earwigs are a nuisance pest, nothing more.

Earwig control

In order to control earwigs inside your home, we recommend contacting a pest control company for help.  At Pine State Pest Solutions, we offer residential pest control services that target earwigs and other bugs that become a pest around homes.  Our services are completed in a timely manner by highly trained, friendly technicians. 

To get rid of earwigs in Auburn and Southern Maine, contact Pine State Pest Solutions today!

Earwig prevention tips

Making your property unattractive to earwigs is the best way to prevent an earwig problem.  To that end, we’ve put together a few prevention tips. 

• Fix any pipes or fixtures that are leaking.

• Run dehumidifiers in the basement, crawl space and other areas where humidity levels are high.

• Get rid of piles of leaves, grass, and other organic materials.

• Keep firewood up of the ground and away from the house.

• Seal cracks in the foundation and caulk gaps around windows and doors.

• Install door sweeps underneath all exterior doors.