What You Need to Know About Pincher Bugs

You have heard the myths that earwigs (pincher bugs) can burrow into your brain and kill you while you sleep. Though these insects resemble alien creatures, the truth about them is very different from what you may have been led to believe. Read on and discover what the professionals at AAI Pest Control, a pest control company in Modesto, share regarding what these bugs are and how you should react when they appear in your home.

Do They Bite, Sting or Pinch?

Technically speaking, the scary appendages that you see on the abdomen of earwigs aren’t mouthparts or stingers. This means that pincher bugs cannot bite or sting you.

Instead, the earwig will pinch you using the pincers on its abdomen. The earwig will only use its pincers on your in case you handle or frighten it. You should, therefore, have no worries that pincher bugs will attack you at first sight.

How Did They Get Their Name?

The name “earwig” dates back to medieval times. Medical practitioners of the time said that these insects could get into someone’s ears and burrow into the brain of that individual. Such a theory could have started once the physical appearance of the pincher bug was observed.

That reputation struck fear into the minds of people, and this fear has persisted to this day. However, science has now advanced to the level where AAI Pest Control can now state authoritatively that pincher bugs are as harmless as a cricket in your Stockton home.

Are Pincher Bugs Dangerous?

Pincher bugs will rarely break your skin when they pinch you. However, the larger ones may cause the skin to break when the pincers pinch you.

Fortunately, earwigs don’t usually transmit any illnesses or germs to humans. However, they live in the ground and may get in contact with the bacteria in the soil. This bacteria can be deposited in your body in case your skin breaks when the pincher bug pinches you.

It is recommended that you apply an antibacterial ointment or cream at the pinch site as a precautionary measure in case your skin is broken during an encounter with earwigs.

Are Pincher Bugs Dangerous to Your Home?

As already mentioned, earwigs don’t ordinarily pose any danger to humans. Similarly, they will not damage your home or its foundation.

Their presence can therefore simply serve as a warning that there could be another problem with your home. For example, you may have a termite or rodent infestation that has created the openings for the pincher bugs.

Similarly, the pincher bugs may alert you that the rain gutter system is defective since the bugs may have entered the roof and the home’s interior through a damaged gutter.

What Can You Do When You See Pincher Bugs in Your Home?

The best step to take when you see earwigs in your home is to call Modesto pest control professionals for an assessment. Experts will inspect your home and identify the underlying reasons, such as termite damage or degraded weather stripping, which have made it possible for the pincher bugs to get in.

The entry points can then be sealed so that no more earwigs get into your home once the ones present are dealt with.