Pest Control Info on Earwigs

Earwigs get their name from the myth that they crawl into people’s ears and tunnel into the brain. This is of course not true. Common in the United States (22 types), the earwig has over 1000 species throughout the world.

An earwig can grow to about one inch in length, but it is common to find smaller ones that have not fully grown to this size. They are long and narrow in shape and have a dark brown coloration. This insect has six legs, a pair of antennae and does not have fully developed wings. They are easily identified by the forceps-like pincers at the end of the abdomen. Although they look scary, they do not spread disease.

Earwigs feed on flowers, leaves, fruits and molds as well as other insects. They typically spend the day hidden under piles of debris such as compost, leaf litter and grass clippings or in decomposed areas of trees or wooden structures. They enter by crawling through cracks in the walls.

The best control methods for earwigs involve IPM techniques such as the removal of debris and vegetation from the surrounding area and the sealing of cracks and crevices to prevent entry.

For more information on Atlanta pest control, or pest control throughout Georgia, please check out our website dedicated to pest control and termite control at http://www.allgoodpestsolutions.com/.