Earwigs. For some, just the name invokes shivers. And for good reason, since these creatures have somewhat of a dark history. The myth has been told that earwigs will crawl into a human ear, burrow into the brain, and lay eggs. This is scary stuff indeed. The fact is, according to James Latta in 1795, "The creature called forficula or earwig is said to make its way into the ear, and to occasion not only deafness but violent pain by its biting; and there is an instance of record of a woman, in whose ear a nest of these insects were lodged, and reduced her to the greatest distress." There are in fact many documented cases of earwigs crawling into ears and causing pain. But these cases are extremely rare now.
However, even if earwigs don't crawl into your ear and cause you pain, they are still pretty disturbing. Here are a few tips that should help you prevent these creepy, moisture-loving insects from invading your home, and possibly, even your ear:
- Reduce moisture around your yard and your foundation. Rake up leaf litter, get rid of weeds, trim bushes and other vegetation away from your home, and keep your lawn neatly trimmed. This will reduce moisture and deter pests.
- Carefully inspect your basement or foundation walls for any gaps, cracks, or holes where insects can squeeze through.
- Liquid cement is a good way to seal up these openings.
- Inspect your exterior walls for any other entry points and fill these in using a caulking gun or other material. Be sure to check around windows, door frames, and places where pipes, wires, or other items enter your home.
- Keep your perimeter dry. If you have mulch, consider replacing it with crushed rock or other dry material. If you can't part with your mulch, a pest control company can put a chemical barrier between your mulch and the foundation walls of your home.
- Make sure all of your door sweeps are present and in good working order. Also, check your weather stripping to see if it is seated properly. It doesn't take much of a gap to allow earwigs and other tiny insects entry into your living spaces.
- Dry out the inside of your home. If earwigs do make it inside, don't give them a reason to stay. Using fans and/or dehumidifiers can go a long way towards making your home less inviting to earwigs since these are moisture-loving pests. Always remember to use the fan while taking a shower as well.
If you need help getting, or keeping, earwigs or any other household pest out of your home this summer season, simply give the professionals here at Big Blue Bug Solutions a call to learn more about our residential pest control services.