Earwigs

Cincinnati OH Professional Earwig Pest Control

Are you familiar with the old tale regarding the initial earwig sighting? If not, you may want to sit down for a bit. An old tale claims the earwig, a Dermaptera insect, was initially discovered living in the brain of a human, no name provided. The earwig apparently accessed the victim’s brain through an ear canal, which is what makes this story even stranger. The tale goes on to make accusations about the insect reproducing inside the victim’s brain. Of course, the tale was just that, as experts never successfully validated.

There are more than 900 members of the Dermaptera insect family. Dermaptera insects are described as having a long, slender body, with multiple pairs of legs, antennas, and pincer-like appendages that protrude from the abdomen.

The adult grows up to 2 inches in length, excluding the 3-inch Saint Helena giant earwig, the largest earwig species ever identified by scientists. The “cerci” play a major role in the earwig’s existence. They are utilized to fight off predators, forage for food, and during copulation.

The insect has both wingless and winged species, which are not known to fly but on special occasions.

Why Is My Cincinnati Home Being Attacked By Earwigs?

Earwigs meet the criteria to be classified as an “overwintering pest.” If you are unfamiliar with this insect classification, you may not be familiar with the earwig as well. There are hundreds of overwintering pests, including the stinkbug, ladybug, cluster fly, box elder bug “boxelder bug,” and of course, the earwig.

Overwintering is a term utilized in reference to a dormant state, similar to hibernation. The earwig enters an overwintering state soon after or before winter kicks in. It remains in this dormant state until the temperatures begin to warm up outdoors. Sometimes the overwintering earwig is caught off guard by ambient temperature. When this occurs, the insect will emerge from its hiding place only to be face-to-face with a human.

Earwigs are nocturnal insects, meaning they are active at night and inactive during daylight hours. These are the most difficult insects to catch in action, especially if you are a day person.

The earwig infiltrates buildings through tiny crevices and gaps around window frames, entrance door thresholds, basement vents, and air conditioning ducts. Anywhere there is a tiny exterior-to-interior gap, it has the potential to become an access point for earwigs.

Do Earwigs Spread Disease To Humans?

No, earwigs are not classified as disease-transmitting insects. Fortunately, their cerci are not powerful enough to penetrate the human skin. However, they are strong enough to do some major damage to indoor plants, which is where you may just discover the insect hiding in the overwintering state.

They are also drawn to rotting organic material, which they will devour if at all possible.

What Is The Most-Recommended Pest Control Strategy For Earwig Infestations?

When one earwig is discovered indoors, there may be two, three, four, or 10 more, depending on the situation. These earwigs are also known to draw other insects to buildings with vulnerable pest barriers.

There is only one pest control method that has proven time and time again to fully eradicate an earwig infestation in two consecutive treatments. Professional earwig management combines routine visual pest inspections, adhesive traps, manpower, and an industrial-strength insecticide to deliver the maximum results.

When Can I Expect The Exterminator To Arrive At My Cincinnati Home On The Scheduled Appointment Day?

We need between 24 and 48 hours to complete the processing of a requested pest control service. Our customer support team works extended hours to deliver speedy responses to all service requests from Cincinnati residents. Once your request is processed, it will be handed over to one of our licensed exterminators. From here, the exterminator will reach out to you regarding a scheduled appointment.

Does Earwig Pest Control Expose Your Clients To Harmful Chemicals?

No, our exterminators are trained to not initiate chemical pesticide treatment in human- or animal-occupied homes. The exterminator will go over our professional pest control protocol at the time of the earwig inspection. You should be notified of our evacuation policy in plenty of time to prepare for the initial treatment.

Our pest control products have all been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The government agency is responsible for the oversight of pesticide manufacturing and sales in the United States.

What Can I Do To Protect My Family And Home From A Repeat Earwig Infestation?

The first thing you should do is tackle your home’s vulnerable pest barrier. This is a simple process that should only require a few hours of your time and supplies. We highly recommend a waterproof sealant like caulk to fill in tiny crevices accessible by earwigs. Larger openings around electrical wiring and sewage pipes will need a more drastic approach. If you need assistance, we suggest reaching out to our Cincinnati-based extermination company.

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