Are pests crawling into your ears at night? We can tell you for certain that earwigs are not. Despite their very creepy name, earwigs are not at all what they seem. If you have never researched these common household pests, today is your day to learn a thing or two about them. Let’s dive right in and talk about everything you as a Springfield homeowner should know about earwigs.
What Are Earwigs?
Thankfully, earwigs are nothing like their name would suggest. You don’t have to worry about these small pests crawling into your ears and burrowing into your brain. This is an old European myth and has long been disproved.
Earwigs can be identified by their elongated, flattened, dark brown bodies and six yellowish-brown legs. Roughly an inch in length when fully grown, earwigs can be frightening to look at. These creepy-looking creatures are also equipped with pincers located at the back of their abdomen and a pair of antennae which protrude from their head. Finally, some species of earwigs have two pairs of wings, front wings, and back wings hidden beneath. If there is anything more terrifying than an earwig, it’s a flying earwig!
How Dangerous Are Earwigs?
Despite having dangerous-looking pincers and a frightening appearance, earwigs are not dangerous at all. If agitated, earwigs can pinch using their abdominal forceps. Besides this, they are not poisonous or venomous, they are not known to carry or transmit any diseases, and they are not capable of doing any severe damage to your home. All in all, earwigs are mostly just nuisance pests.
How Earwigs Get Into Homes
Due to their ability to climb and fly, earwigs have a number of options when it comes to invading your Springfield home. If your doors are not equipped with door sweeps, they could crawl beneath them to get inside. If your window and door screens are damaged they could use a rip or tear to find their way in. Some earwigs can even use gaps and cracks in the exterior of homes to gain entry.
To prevent earwigs from gaining access to your home, here are some things you as a homeowner can do.
- Use a caulking gun to seal up gaps in your home’s exterior foundation, cracks along window and door frames, and openings around exterior piping.
- Repair or replace ripped or torn window screens.
Install door sweeps under doors that do not have them. - Check weather stripping around your home and make sure it is in good working order.
One thing earwigs love more than anything is moisture. To go above and beyond to deter earwigs from your home, consider fixing leaky piping, using a dehumidifier to combat humidity in your home, and making sure your gutters are all in good working order.
The Best Way To Keep Earwigs Out Of Your Springfield Home
If you really hate finding earwigs inside your Springfield home, the only dependable solution is professional pest control. At American Pest Solutions, we provide detailed and effective treatments to ensure your home stays earwig-free, year-round. We also offer a wide range of other services for any pest problem your home might be up against. Whatever your pest need is, our team is ready with your best solution.
Give us a call today to find out more about our pest protection plans and to find the right one to fit your home’s needs. One of our friendly service representatives is standing by and ready to help you out.