The Ultimate Guide To Earwigs In Sugar Land: Habits, Prevention And Control

What is an earwig bug? First, it is a mid-size insect. We say mid-side because, at about one inch, it is much larger than many other insects. While we tend to be more aware of larger species, the average size of an insect is only about ¼ of an inch in length. Another way to tell earwigs from other insects is to look for the large pincers on the end of their abdomens. If you see an insect with pincers on its head, that is not an earwig. It is a soldier termite and won't be anywhere near one inch long. Since earwigs are so unique, we don't have to spend much time on pest identification. We can get right into the business of habitat preference, prevention, and control. Join us as we look at some of the places earwigs prefer to live, common behavior patterns, and why you may find them in your home. We'll look at why prevention is critical and offer up some tips to help you keep them out. We'll finish by looking at earwig pest control and how you can get long-term and sustainable control of these pesky critters. As always, your Modern Pest Control team is here if you need us. Remember that we offer industry-leading pest control in Sugar Land and the surrounding area. We're the right choice when you need an earwig exterminator. Connect with us today to schedule a service.

Insights Into Earwig Habits And Behaviors

When talking about earwigs in Sugar Land, we always like to start with the most obvious question: Could earwigs get inside your ear? Our answer is likely to surprise you. The answer is yes. Earwigs could get into your ear. But, then again, so could many other insects. There are a few reasons an insect would want to get into your ear. Can you guess what they are? The most important reason is that your ear canal is a tight space, and many insects like to squeeze into tight spaces. Another reason is that your ear canal is a dark space. Insects that crawl under rocks, like the earwig, are drawn to dark environments. The last reason is the least of the three, but still important to mention, most ear canals are moist, and insects need moisture for survival.

Now that we have your attention, we're happy to say that there is little or no chance that an earwig will ever get into your ear. There are primarily two reasons why this is the case. The most important is that earwigs aren't great climbers. They aren't going to easily scale your body to get into your ear. They're also not likely to live in your bedroom. These insects prefer dirty, undisturbed, and humid environments.

On this topic of earwigs getting into your ear, we should also address the idea that they leg eggs inside the ear. This is never the case. The ear canal of a human does not provide a suitable location for an earwig to lay eggs. There is no appropriate food source for larvae to feed on. So, when you see an earwig in your house, let these facts put your mind at ease.

So, what can we learn about earwig prevention and control from what we've discussed so far?

Earwigs love tight spaces. Therefore, they will use cracks and gaps to enter your home if they find them.
Earwigs love dark places. They will have no trouble crawling around in a basement or boiler room.
Earwigs need moisture. If you have a humid basement, earwigs may stay for more than a quick visit.
Earwigs will access entry points that are close to the ground or use vegetation as a bridge to higher locations.
Earwigs will enter your home through points that are near suitable outdoor environments, areas with soil, detritus, and lots of insects to eat.

Now you're on track to start getting control of earwigs indoors and out. Before we provide you with specific tips for managing earwigs, let's look at why it is important to control earwigs.

Why It's Crucial To Stop Earwigs Before They Become A Problem

Are earwigs bad? It depends on who you ask. If you ask an entomologist, they'll tell you that earwigs are beneficial insects. They help with the control of other pests, like plant-damaging aphids. If you ask a gardener, they'll say earwigs are a mixed bag. While they help with pest control, they also make holes in plant leaves. If you ask a pest control service provider, we'll say earwigs aren't bad as long as they stay where they belong. When they get into your home and find a suitable habitat, they're hard to deal with because they hide inside structural cavities and don't readily come out of hiding, making it difficult to apply pest control to address infestations.

It is far better to stop earwigs long before they get into your home. You can do this in a number of ways. You can remove attractants and beneficial habitats near your home to reduce earwig populations, seal potential entry points they may use to get into your home, and alter indoor conditions to drive them out. You may also consider an ongoing pest control service plan, like Modern PLUS, Signature, and Signature PLUS pest control from Modern Pest Control. These programs come with routine exterior treatments that apply a control material to keep insects from entering your home. We provide quarterly pest service backed by a service guarantee and coverage for all the pests that matter most, like ants, roaches, silverfish, spiders, crickets, pill bugs, earwigs, and more.

Creating An Uninviting Environment For Earwigs

If you want to address an earwig infestation on your own or take steps to keep earwigs out of your home, you need to start by creating uninviting environments for these insects. You can do this indoors and out. We've touched on this, but let's look at some specific earwig prevention tips:

Consider installing a dehumidifier to manage moisture in your basement so earwigs won't find a suitable place to live.
Repair any leaks, particularly in your boiler room. Even a small leak can provide the moisture earwigs need for survival.
Keep your basement clean and free of dust or dirt. These materials make earwigs feel right at home.
Manage clutter so that earwigs don't have tight spaces to crawl around in. You'll also remove a hiding place for the insects that earwigs eat.
Manage other pests in your basement to remove food options for earwigs. Everything you do to reduce pest activity will have an impact on all pest activity because many bugs eat other bugs.
Repair damaged window panes and screens so earwigs can't get inside.
Fill in rotted wood holes. Consider no hole too small, as earwigs have a low profile.
Use a caulking gun to apply a seal around your exterior windows.
Repair mortar and patch concrete cracks in your foundation slab or walls.
Spray expanding foam into the gaps around pipes, wire conduits, and other building components that enter your home through your foundation or exterior walls.
Replace door sweeps on the bottoms of your exterior doors and make sure good contact is made all the way across.
If you have double doors, make sure they are properly aligned so that you don't have any gaps in your weatherstripping. You can detect gaps at night by standing outdoors with the doors closed. If you see the thinnest line of light leaking out, keep in mind that it is large enough to allow an earwig to enter.
Replace worn-out weatherstripping around windows.
Remove leaf litter near your home to remove a beneficial habitat for earwigs.
Trim landscape plants to help with moisture management.
Prune plants so that they don't touch the side of your home and provide a bridge for earwigs.
Clean debris from your gutters to prevent blockages and overflow.
Only give your plants the water needed for healthy development.
Maintain healthy plants to reduce the risk of aphid issues, which attract earwigs.
Use sticky traps to track earwig activity and monitor pressures.
Replace exterior white lights with yellow lights. While earwigs like to hide in dark holes and dark, tight spaces, they are attracted to light, and yellow lights are less visible to insects. You may also install motion-sensitive light bulbs or fixtures to keep lights off when you aren't using them.
Remove objects around your exterior for earwigs to hide underneath.

All of these tips will help you manage earwig populations, reduce the number that may attempt to get into your home, and remove potential entry points. They'll also deter earwigs further when they get inside. No earwig is going to want to live in a dry environment, particularly if it is free of food and hiding places.

Now that you have the facts you need to manage earwig problems, let's turn our attention to professional home pest control services. When it comes to managing any potential pest, it pays to have a licensed professional provide an Integrated Pest Management plan for long-term control.

Professional Pest Control: Long-Term Earwig Control

Of all the pests that can enter your home, earwigs are the least troublesome. Those scary pincers aren't able to harm you, earwigs don't bite, they can't damage building materials or belongings in your home, and they aren't associated with human diseases. The reason to keep them out is just that they're scary-looking bugs, and failing to keep them out can allow them to get into your walls and other hiding places, making control more challenging. How does a professional help you get long-term home pest control in Sugar Land? In a few critical ways, including:

Ongoing pest control service reduces all of the pests in your yard. Since earwigs eat bugs, your pest control service will reduce an important food source.
Ongoing pest control helps to prevent pests from entering your home. Liquid treatments to your lower exterior stop insects in their tracks. Not only will this directly impact earwigs, but it also has the indirect impact of removing the indoor food sources that can allow earwigs to live in your home.
Ongoing pest management addresses plant-damaging insects, like aphids, scale insects, and white flies, all of which create honeydew. You'll have less to worry about from earwigs if you don't have these plant pests around.

A licensed professional is also the right choice for earwig removal. We have the tools needed to get control materials into wall voids and other tough-to-treat areas where these insects hide. We can also track subtle signs of activity and monitor the success of your treatment program. If you keep seeing earwigs appearing in your basement or on the first floor of your home, it pays to get professional treatment.

Are you in Sugar Land? Want to learn more about general pest control for addressing earwigs and other pests that accidentally get into your home? Let your Modern Pest Control service team help. Get started with a free inspection. We'll take a look at your pest problem and provide you with service options to arrest pest activity. If you wish, we can also tell you about how ongoing pest control can specifically address your pest control needs. Navigate to our Contact Us page. There, you'll find a short form. Tell us about your pest problem or concerns, and we'll get right back to you.

Modern Pest Control was founded in 1952 with a commitment to helping families and businesses manage pest threats. We aren't a big, faceless pest conglomerate. We're your local pest experts. We apply advanced Integrated Pest Management for the highest level of pest control for our customers. We're also QualityPro certified by the National Pest Management Association. Our QualityPro certification is your assurance that we have met and exceeded stringent guidelines set by state and federal government agencies and are certified by a third-party auditor. Only three percent of pest control companies in the United States are QualityPro certified. You can trust our team to provide you with the highest level of pest management and service. Connect with us today!