What Attracts Earwigs

Because of their unusual appearance, especially their pincers, a lot of people are scared of earwigs or pincher bugs. There are also several myths pertaining to these insects. One of the most popular is that these insects can enter the human body through the ears and burrow inside a person’s brain.

What attracts earwigs?

Earwigs are typically found in gardens, especially in southern climes. Although they feed on harmful garden insects like aphids and spider mites, they are considered pests because they also feed on leaves, especially those of vegetables. In fact, some of the most common signs that you have an earwig infestation are leaves filled with holes.

Usually, earwigs infest a garden because of the promise of food. However, they can sometimes find their way inside the home. In general, these insects thrive in environments that have moist soil with ample cover and food. However, they may end up inside a home by accident or in order to escape adverse outdoor conditions.

Earwigs inside your home

One way that these insects can get inside your home is through entry points like holes, cracks and gaps. It is also possible for them to get inside your house through doors and windows that have been poorly sealed. Other entry points include access doors, foundation vents and the gaps between foundations and sidings. Earwigs may also intentionally enter a home when they are attracted by lights.

Earwigs may also live in boxes that have been stored in a wet or moist environment, like a garage. Now, when you move these boxes from one place to another, you can inadvertently bring these insects inside your home.

Another way that these insects can be unintentionally brought inside a home is through plants. For example, if you have left a potted plant outdoors and an earwig feeds upon this plant, it is highly possible that you unwittingly welcome the earwig inside your home once you bring your plant indoors.

Sometimes, the outdoor conditions can become inhospitable for earwigs. Earwigs often move into houses when it becomes too cold outdoors, or if it is too dry outdoors. If you have a damp area in your home, these insects may seeks these areas.

Preventing an earwig infestation

The best place to start if you wish to keep your property from being infested by earwigs is to make it inhospitable to the insects. Specifically, you need to prevent the buildup of leaves, both indoors and outdoors.

If you suspect that there are earwigs infesting your home it is best to consult professional pest control specialists to confirm your suspicions and apply the proper solution. If you live in our service area and would like to schedule a service appointment, contact us today!