You may have heard a lot about earwigs in the past, but much of what you’ve heard is rooted in folklore and urban legend. You may have heard that these creatures would tunnel into your ear canal at night and chew through your brain slowly but surely, laying eggs at the same time. Sounds like a nightmare, right? Well, this isn’t true at all.

But it doesn’t mean you won’t let out a little screech if you spot one in your bathroom in the middle of the night. Earwigs generally avoid contact with humans, preferring to spend their days in dark, moist areas such as underneath rocks or logs. They emerge at night to feed.

You will know earwigs by their pincers at the backs of their abdomens, punctuated by long, flat bodies. They can be black, brown, or red in color, and extend about an inch long. They may have two pairs of wings but most species don't fly. The most they may do is glide or fly in bursts.

Earwigs in the Home

Earwigs are garden pests that feed mostly on plants, small insects and decomposing materials. They prefer to be outside and won’t unintentionally try to get into your home here in Nashville, Tennessee. But sometimes they find themselves inside and that’s because they were attracted to an area with lots of moisture content or damp soil, such as a crawlspace or unfinished basement.

Earwigs may be lured toward your house by surrounding woodpiles, leaf piles, or dense vegetation butting up against the exterior. Once close, they may crawl into your house through holes and cracks or through uncovered vents.

Don’t worry, they’re not dangerous and don’t carry diseases. They will only pinch you if provoked or attacked. But even if you suffer a pinch from an earwig, it likely won’t break the skin or cause bleeding, and they don’t release venom like other insects do.

Even so, you don’t want to share your Nashville home with earwigs. Not only can they damage your houseplants, they can release a foul odor when they are scared. Plus, they tend to attract other, more dangerous, pests who like to feed on them.

Earwig Prevention

To keep earwigs away in the first place, you need to block off their entry points. Winterizing homes against insects including earwigs. Heed these tips to keep earwigs out of your home or business:

• Fill all cracks and holes with steel wool and caulking.
• Seal your windows properly and tightly.
• Regularly check screens for holes or tears.
• Cover attic and foundation vents.
• Use a dehumidifier in your basement, attic, and bathrooms, or anywhere else that gets a lot of moisture.
• Don’t store firewood against the exterior walls of your home.
• Don't accumulate leaf piles in your yard.

Just because earwigs won’t chew through your brain or lay eggs in there doesn’t mean you want them in your home!

Contact PureGuard Pest Solutions in Nashville TN

If you think you have an earwig infestation on your hands, schedule your free inspection when you contact us today at 615-502-2855. We are your trusted Nashville pest control professionals.

We offer winterizing Nashville homes and business agains insects and exclusion service againast rodents in and around Nashville, Tennessee