Earwig Services
Have Earwigs?
Earwigs are sometimes known as “pincher bugs” because of the forceps-like pinchers, call cerci, which they carry at the rear of their bodies. There are some 2,000 species of earwigs, one of which grows to be 2-inches long. Only a few of these species live here in the Valley of the Sun however, given our arid climate and the fact that earwigs tend to prefer dark, damp environments. This is why they are usually found in interior and exterior expansion joints, near water fixtures, grass, other watered landscaping and under rocks
ControlContrary to a popular myth that has been around since the Middle Ages, earwigs do not crawl into people’s ears and burrow into their brains to lay eggs. They can cause minor but irritating skin injuries with their pinchers.
A nest of earwigs can also give off an unpleasant odor. Some gardeners have found them to be beneficial because they eat other insects that can harm plants, but if their prey is not abundant, they will become scavengers and start looking for food wherever they can. As they forage for food and as their populations are left uncontrolled we start finding them in our homes and they become a pest. |
TreatmentTacit Services, a respected Arizona pest control company, can effectively treat for earwigs and other common pests in a way that is people friendly, pet friendly and environment friendly.
As mentioned previously, earwigs seek out dark, damp environments mentioned above. It is not uncommon for earwigs to get into your house as stowaways in or on boxes brought in from other locations. Like other pests, they are also attracted to food sources, which can include soft fruit and other types of insects. Unchecked, they can feed on ornamental plants as well as fruits and vegetables. You may see signs of an earwig infestation on leaves; earwig damage is similar in appearance to that caused by garden slugs. |
PreventionOur technicians employ a truck-mounted, gas-powered sprayer in order to penetrate deep into earwigs’ nesting areas. Because of the nature of the earwig life cycle (the eggs hatch within seven days), our pest control services include treatment not only of the actual infestation but also any other potential nesting sites. This way, the chances of a new earwig nest becoming established are greatly reduced.
It is likely that after our service call, you will continue to see an influx of earwigs. This is to be expected; once our technicians have driven them out of their nest, these pests will seek new hiding places. Generally, our customers find a decrease in activity within 10 to 14 days. After several treatments, we can generally obtain solid control. |
