How To Control Earwigs In The House

03/19/2018

Earwigs   

Earwigs are a common home invader throughout Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia. These brown and black pincher bugs are very frightening when first discovered, but what are they? Let's review the details about the earwig and what you can do to kill earwigs in your home. 

Why Are Earwigs In The House?

Earwigs, or “pincer-bugs” as they are commonly called, have a long body and grow to about 5/8th of an inch in length. Earwigs are reddish-brown in color and have a distinctive pair of cerci or “pincers” coming off the end of their abdomen. Earwigs are known as occasional invaders, meaning that these pests are mainly found living outside, but will enter inside when the weather outside becomes unsuitable for their survival. Earwigs can typically be found invading homes in large numbers when the weather cools down in the fall; though it is important to know that they really can become problematic inside your home any time of the year. Earwigs can be found living outside in dark, damp areas like underneath mulch, under piles of leaves, grass, or under other organic debris. They can find their way inside your home after foraging for food or after being attracted to your home by outdoor lighting. Once inside a home, earwigs tend to congregate in large numbers and will live and hide in the hard to reach areas of your home (basements, crawl spaces, behind walls and underneath floors), making them difficult to eliminate without professional services.

How To Control An Earwig Infestation:

To help prevent earwigs from making their way into your home,  the professionals at American Pest offer the following earwig prevention tips:

• Place a stone or rock barrier between your home’s foundation and any mulch, grass, or soil.

• Reduce moisture around your home by trimming bushes and trees back away from the outside of your home.

• Install gutters and make sure that they are working properly to direct water away from the outside of your home.

• Earwigs are attracted to light, switch out white outdoor light for yellow, insect repellent lights.

• Reduce humidity levels inside of your home by installing dehumidifiers and making sure that bathroom areas and crawl spaces are properly ventilated.

• Put into place a year-round, professional pest control service from the professionals at American Pest.

Protect your home from invasive earwigs by turning to the experienced, licensed, and educated professionals at American Pest. At American Pest, we offer a year-round pest control solution to ensure that your home will be kept free of invasive earwigs throughout every season. Contact us today to learn all that you need to know about controlling insects and other household invaders inside of your Maryland, DC, or Virginia home.