The beliefs about earwigs are certainly not true. They said earwigs got their name because they enter the human brain through the ears. Earwigs are not dangerous and do not enter the brain. They are insects that crawl through your house, especially if you have stored fruits and vegetables; earwigs are attracted to them.
Earwigs do not reside inside your home. They just crawl into your house. To prevent them from entering your home, check windows and doors for any openings that serve as points of entry. Earwigs like damp, wet places. They hide in dark areas outdoors. To prevent earwigs around your home, remove logs, leaves, and other debris. If the infestation is severe, it may help to put stones around the house. Birdbaths and bird feeders can also kill earwigs because they eat them. If earwigs are destroying your plants, a can of vegetable oil or bacon grease can kill them off.
Using pesticides can help get rid of them, but you need to let them in first before killing them. Here are other ways to eliminate earwigs in your home.
- Keep green plants away. Earwigs like plants, fruits, and vegetables, so it’s best to keep plants away from your home. Earwigs infest your plants and if you bring them inside your house, you will also take the earwigs with you. Earwigs can destroy your home and furniture. Watering your plants is also favorable for earwigs because they like damp, moist areas. Spraying soapy water can remove earwigs from plants.
- Use steam lights. Avoid using white lights as they attract earwigs, but if you want to catch them then white lighting is recommended. Place a can of soapy water under the light so the earwigs fall into it and drown.
- Use paper traps. Moistening a newspaper with water or vegetable oil is effective for catching earwigs. Roll up the newspaper with an elastic band and place it where earwigs are frequent. The earwigs will crawl into the newspaper and die there because they can’t get out anymore. Throw away the newspapers every morning and remember not to compost your garden.
- Dry damp areas of your home. Check all areas of the house, such as the pool, ponds, birdbath, and fountains. Dry them to prevent earwig infestation. Since earwigs are attracted to moisture and moisture, they will stay away from these areas, thus eliminating them around your home.
- Boric acid. Use boric acid to kill earwigs naturally. Applying them around your home can be very effective in getting rid of earwigs. Apply boric acid in areas where earwigs pass, such as windows, doors, holes, floors, etc. Although boric acid is effective at killing insects, be careful when using it because it can be dangerous to children and other pets in the house. Apply it in places that are not accessible to children and pets. If you need to store them, place them where they cannot be easily reached.
- Keep your house clean. A clean house will not only prevent earwigs, but also other insects and pests. Make sure your house is clean to avoid pest infestation. Also, after you eliminate earwigs, keep your house clean so they don’t reappear.
- Eliminate the hiding place of the earwig. This includes areas such as log piles, leaf debris or logs and steps in your yard.
Although earwigs are not dangerous, you must be careful not to touch them because their bite can be very painful. They usually hide during the day, so use your traps at night when they leave their place. In some cases, earwigs can be advantageous in the garden because they kill other insects in the garden such as snails, aphids, and other nocturnal pests. They don’t cause any disease, but it’s really creepy to watch. There are a total of 22 types of earwigs in the United States alone. They feed on fruits, vegetables, insects and molds. Sealing the cracks and holes in your home can prevent them from entering and affecting your life.
