earwig Archives - Southern Pest Control https://southernpestcontrol.com/tag/earwig/ Service When You Need It Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:48:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://southernpestcontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/shield-icon.png earwig Archives - Southern Pest Control https://southernpestcontrol.com/tag/earwig/ 32 32 Do Earwigs Burrow Into Your Brain To Lay Eggs While You Sleep? https://southernpestcontrol.com/do-earwigs-burrow-into-your-brain-to-lay-eggs-while-you-sleep/ Fri, 17 Feb 2017 18:31:48 +0000 https://southernpestcontrol.com/blog/?p=642 Not true. Earwigs do not crawl into people’s ear canals to lay their eggs. The name Earwig is derived from the Anglo-Saxon ear-wicga, which roughly translated means, the “ear wiggler.” Characteristics Earwigs are nocturnal. Earwigs eat plants, flowers, fruits and insects. Earwigs prefer to hide in cool and moist environments. Some species produce a foul […]

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]]> Not true. Earwigs do not crawl into people’s ear canals to lay their eggs. The name Earwig is derived from the Anglo-Saxon ear-wicga, which roughly translated means, the “ear wiggler.”

Characteristics

  • Earwigs are nocturnal.
  • Earwigs eat plants, flowers, fruits and insects.
  • Earwigs prefer to hide in cool and moist environments.
  • Some species produce a foul smelling liquid that they use for defense.
  • Adult Earwigs are dark reddish-brown, with six light brown legs and range in size from 5-25 mm.
  • Earwigs have pincers (concave jaws that are arranged like the blades of scissors, used for gripping and pulling things) on the back of their abdomens.

Reproduction

  • Most species have one generation a year.
  • Females typically lay between 20 and 50 eggs during the spring in chambers a few inches underground.
  • The female Earwig continuously cleans the eggs to protect them from fungi.
  • Earwig eggs hatch in about 7 days.
  • After the nymphs hatch, they eat the egg casing.
  • Earwigs live for about a year from hatching.

Prevention

  • Make sure crawl space vents are screened.
  • Eliminate damp moist conditions around foundations.
  • Avoid shade near the foundation by pruning trees and shrubs.
  • Keep firewood piles, landscape timbers, mulch and fallen leaves away from the foundation.
  • Seal all possible entry points around windows, pipes, doors, including cracks and crevices in the walls.
  • Since many insects are attracted to white light at night, position outdoor lighting to shine on house from yard. If moving light fixtures is burdensome, use yellow light bulbs.

Attempting to eliminate Earwigs effectively requires the use of several insecticide products. To avoid improper application, call a local pest control expert.

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]]> Fun Fact Friday: Earwigs https://southernpestcontrol.com/fun-fact-friday-earwigs/ Thu, 12 Feb 2015 21:18:00 +0000 https://southernpestcontrol.com/blog/?p=287 Weird but true: Male earwigs find mates using their sense of smell. They get their name from a myth that they will crawl right into your ear if you sleep outside. There over 1800 species from the order Dermaptera or “skin wings” derived from their short, leather-like forewings. The Greek “derma” means skin and “ptera” […]

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]]> Weird but true: Male earwigs find mates using their sense of smell. They get their name from a myth that they will crawl right into your ear if you sleep outside. There over 1800 species from the order Dermaptera or “skin wings” derived from their short, leather-like forewings. The Greek “derma” means skin and “ptera” means wings.

As the saying goes, “The best defense is a good offense”. We are just 35 days away from spring so now is the time to prepare your home with a pest control service plan. Don’t be the person that waits to raise the white flag once an infestation has occurred and after all do it yourself battles have failed. Pest Control Services.

Facts from NPMA’s Pestworld.org and National Geographic Kids

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