Earwigs are creepy creatures that have a fearsome reputation. Earwigs are common household pests in the United States. They are attracted to light and can often be found near windows or doorways. Earwigs can cause significant damage to plants and crops.
They get their name from an old wives’ tale, which says that they crawl into people’s ears and lay eggs in their brains.
While this is not true, earwigs can be a nuisance, and there are some important things you need to know about them. In this article, you will read 10 important earwig facts that you’re going to thank me for! Keep reading!
Table of Contents
What are earwigs exactly?
Earwigs are a type of insect that can be found all over the world. They can fly, but not very well, and they prefer to search for food or mates on the ground instead of flying around randomly.
That said, these insects can increase their wingspan to almost ten times their size when it is folded or hidden!
These insects are often considered pests because they can damage plants and crops, but they also have some positive attributes. One of the most interesting things about earwigs is that they are capable of getting into human ears, which can lead to some humorous situations.
Earwigs are a species of Arthropod, which is the largest phylum in the animal kingdom. They have two cerci on their back, and they use them to sense their environment. Earwigs are nocturnal and eat mostly decaying plant matter, although they can also be predators.
10 important earwig facts.
There are many facts about the earwig species per se. Earwigs are beneficial insects that play an important role in the environment. They eat decaying materials, which helps clean up the environment.
They can also help control insect populations in gardens and other areas. Additionally, earwigs are not known to spread disease to humans or other animals. But there’s more!
Earwigs aren’t dangerous insects!
Earwigs are not particularly aggressive creatures and rarely lash out. They are timid creatures that will run away when they feel threatened. While they can bite, their bites are not dangerous.
In spite of their menacing appearance, earwigs are not really harmful to humans. In fact, the most damage they could do is pinch your skin- and that would only be if you were unlucky enough to get pinched by one!
Earwigs don’t really crawl into human ears!
Earwigs are a species of insect that get their name from the old wives’ tale that they crawl into people’s ears and lay eggs in their brains.
This is not true- they are actually attracted to dark, warm, humid places like under rocks or in gardens. While they can be a nuisance, they are not harmful to humans.
Interestingly, earwigs are not at all attracted to human brains and would only stay in the ear for a short amount of time. In fact, they usually enter people’s ears unintentionally while hiding from predators or searching for food.
So don’t worry if you think you have an earwig infestation–the pests are generally harmless to humans.
Earwigs might pinch you while trying to defend themselves.
In general, earwigs are not considered to be a dangerous species. However, they will use their pincers on humans if they feel threatened or startled. The pincers on their back can inflict a painful pinch.
Therefore, it is best to be aware of their behavior and try to avoid contact with them if possible. Earwigs are only known to pinch humans if they feel threatened or startled.
Earwigs love to hide out in the dirt.
Earwigs are insects that live in the soil. They love to hide out in the dirt and can be found all over the world.
In addition to hiding out in the dirt, they eat plant life and make nests there. This can be a nuisance for gardeners and farmers, as the earwigs can do damage to crops.
Earwigs love to live near moist environments and in cooler climates. This is why they are often found near the dirt, making them easy to spot if you’re paying attention.
Earwigs are an invasive pest species.
Earwigs are an invasive pest species that is found throughout the US. They can cause a lot of damage to crops and gardens and can be difficult to get rid of. There are a number of things you can do to help keep earwigs under control, including using traps and pesticides.
That said, earwigs are not native to the United States. However, they have been firmly established in this country since at least 1907. These pests are now found all over the US, and they often invade homes in search of food or shelter.
Today, because of how long it has been since these pests were introduced to the environment of the USA, it is extremely normal to find earwigs here and there.
Earwigs love rotting vegetarian organic matter.
Earwigs are attracted to rotting plant material because it’s a food source that is rich in moisture. This type of food is ideal for them because it allows them to survive in damp environments. They’ll also feed on healthy plant material if it’s nearby.
Earwigs are omnivorous.
Earwigs are omnivorous, which means they’ll eat pretty much anything. This includes both plants and animals. They’re not particularly picky, so they’ll eat whatever is available to them.
In fact, earwigs often hunt and feed on smaller insect pests. They are known to be beneficial in the garden as they eat aphids, caterpillars, and other harmful bugs.
They use their forceps to catch and hold their prey before eating them. Some common prey items for earwigs include insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates.
Earwigs can fly but don’t generally fly.
Earwigs are not known for their flying abilities, but they can fly if they need to. However, they generally don’t fly unless there is a good reason to do so.
Their wings are small and not particularly effective for flying, so the majority of earwigs will move around by crawling.
The name earwig is derived from the Latin word for “ear” and the Old English word for “wasp.” This is because the wings of an earwig are shaped like human ears.
Much like bed bugs, earwigs often hitchhike.
Earwigs are a species of insect that is often found outdoors. They are attracted to areas that have high levels of humidity, moisture, and darkness. This can often lead them to hitchhike on people and objects as they move around.
Just as with bed bugs, earwigs often hitchhike on various items and travel great distances. They are also very opportunistic feeders, digging into whatever they can find to get to the food.
Earwigs also often hitchhike on bags of dirt, fertilizer, or seeds. If you bring any of these items into your home, there’s a good chance the earwigs will follow. Be sure to inspect these items carefully before bringing them inside.
Earwigs love humid environments.
Interestingly, earwigs thrive in humid environments and are often transported inside through gaps near the baseboard or window wells. In fact, they can sneak in through very small openings!
You will also find these bugs near the foundation of your home or in crawl spaces. They are also attracted to cool areas, so you may find them hiding near air conditioning units or refrigerators.
The name ‘earwig’ actually arises from a myth!
Here’s a bonus fact for you! The name “earwig” actually comes from a European myth that says that if you sleep on the ground, an earwig will crawl into your ear and lay eggs. This is not actually true, but the name has stuck.
Interestingly, there is another theory that the name “earwig” is derived from a myth in which an ear of corn was supposedly filled with these creatures and turned into a giant earwig.
Folklore has it that when people would sleep near an ear of corn, the earwigs would crawl into their ears and eat away at their brains. Thankfully, this is not true either!
Earwigs are not spiders; they belong to the arachnid family, but they are not true spiders. They differ from spiders in a number of ways: earwigs have two pairs of wings, they do not produce silk, and the female earwig does not carry her young on her back.
How to control earwigs in your home?
Earwigs are a common pest found in gardens and around the home. But, there are a few things you can do to help control them, including getting rid of any piles of vegetation near your home and using an insecticide if necessary.
In addition, earwigs can enter your home by crawling through the pet door or coming in with the groceries. To prevent them from entering, seal any cracks and crevices in your walls, doors, windows, and foundations.
You can also install weather stripping around doors and windows. Finally, make sure that you keep your yard free of debris so that the earwigs have nowhere to hide.
Further, you should replace all of your white light bulbs with yellow ones; the yellow light is less attractive to insects like earwigs than bright white light. You can also try using a vacuum cleaner to suck them up.
You could also place a birdbath or bird feeder in your garden; the earwigs will be attracted to the water or food and will stay away from your plants. You can also use chemical-based pesticides, but these should only be used as a last resort.
Conclusion
The salient points that you need to remember about earwigs are small, nocturnal insects that can be found all over the world. They play an important role in the ecosystem by feeding on decaying plant matter and other insects.
Earwigs have a quick lifecycle, from egg to nymph to adult. Although they look fierce, they are essentially harmless and should not cause any concern.
