Earwigs In Memphis: How To Keep Them Out Of Your Home

5/30/2022

What is the strangest-looking creature you have ever seen? Most people discern a thing's strangeness by features that are not common or seem out of place. In the case of the earwig, this bug has a large pincher at its rear, and this pincher looks like it could easily pierce human skin. To help you better understand earwigs and the problems they cause here in Memphis, here are some things to consider, including what method works best to keep earwigs out of your home.

Do Earwigs Harm Humans?

The earwig is one of the world’s scarier-looking creatures. Their sharp features and the large pincers at their rear make them appear incredibly dangerous. The question is: are earwigs dangerous? The answer to this depends on what you consider to be dangerous. Earwigs are not life-threatening. They have no venom and are not known for spreading any forms of harmful bacteria. These pests are, however, capable of both biting and pinching creatures or humans that they feel threatened by. If you accidentally trap an earwig or make it feel threatened, it might attack. If their pincers get a good grip on your skin, they might pierce through and cause a small amount of bleeding. To avoid this, do not pick up earwigs and be careful where you sit while gardening or doing other chores outdoors.

Is There Anything Good About Having Earwigs In Your Home?

One thing people often wonder is: what are earwigs good for? The truth is, these occasional pests are great for compost piles and for consuming garden and home pests like aphids, mites, and nematodes. These benefits, however, do not make up for the problems earwigs cause. The closer to your home these pests are, the more likely they will be to get indoors. When disturbed, an earwig produces a noticeable foul odor. Finally, these pests can do major damage to garden plants with their voracious eating habits.

Five Myths About Earwigs 

The earwig bug is one of the most misunderstood pests around the globe. Here are five myths commonly believed about these insects and some information that might help shed some light on their true nature.

• Myth: Earwigs crawl into people’s ears.
• Truth: Earwigs rarely crawl onto people, let alone into their ears.

• Myth: Earwigs lay eggs inside people's heads.
• Truth: Earwig eggs are laid in protected areas like under wet leaves and mulch. Your head does not provide the protection or accessibility these pests need.

• Myth: Earwigs like to invade homes.
• Truth: Earwigs only invade homes when it is necessary for them to survive. Most homes do not have enough plant growth for these pests to survive.

• Myth: Earwigs are easy to spot.
• Truth: Whether earwigs are outside your home or indoors, they will stick to secluded, dark, and moist areas. 



• Myth: Earwigs are difficult pests to eliminate.
• Truth: With modern advancements in pest control technology and strategies, pests like earwigs are incredibly easy to remove from homes and properties. 

How To Keep Earwigs Away From Your Memphis Home

If you have earwigs in your Memphis home or are looking for a good way to keep pests in general from invading your interior spaces, let our team at Dart Pest, Lawn & Wildlife lend you a helping hand. We offer comprehensive inspections, elimination, and long-term prevention options that are designed to fit each of our client’s individual needs. All you need to do is let us pay your home and property a visit.

Call Dart Pest, Lawn & Wildlife today to learn more about our general pest control options and find a quick and effective solution to your Memphis property's earwig problems.

Tags: earwigs | earwig control | earwig prevention