Earwigs

You put the earwig up against any other insect, and it will appear far superior. This is especially true when you’re talking about the Texan earwig, given that everything is bigger in Texas. When you consider the insect’s scary presence and the myths surrounding the insect, it is more than easy to understand why they have been intimidating homeowners for years.

Luckily, when it comes to the earwig, there is nothing to fear. This is not to say that these creepy crawlers aren’t a nuisance because that would simply be a lie. You do not, however, need to worry about them burrowing into your ears and laying eggs in your brain. With all this in mind, some pertinent facts will make your earwig detection and elimination efforts all that more successful.

A Nocturnal Pest

One of the things that make earwig detection and elimination so difficult is that the pest is nocturnal. This means they are only active at night. At least this is when they’ll be the most active. There might be times when they are active during the day, but this is something they’ll prefer to avoid. It will be the night when they search for food. They are commonly found in areas like the garden, under damp, soft, and moist mulch, and vegetation. They are also not shy to logs, stones, and dead leaves. These pesky invaders are also huge purveyors of cellulose, so it won’t be uncommon to find them between logs or in cardboard.

Accidental Invaders

Believe it or not, the earwig could be considered an accidental invader. It’s not that they want to be inside the home, rather it’s the weather conditions that force them in the home. And given the weather in Austin, it oftentimes forces the pests indoors. When the weather conditions outside remain dry, hot, or even cool for long periods, these invaders will seek refuge inside. Unfortunately, it may be your climate-controlled property that offers the refuge these creepy crawlers seek.

As for how they get into the home, they usually make their way in through cracks, crevices, basements, doors, windows, and vent openings. They’ll also be attracted to moisture and water-filled areas like the laundry room, bathroom, and kitchen. These are problematic areas you’ll want to survey closely. In addition to being attracted to cellulose, they are also attracted to light. It would not be unfathomable to see them gathered on the porch or patio around outside lighting. You might even find them stuck to the side of a window, soaking up the light from inside the home.

Learning The Early Warning Signs

Regardless of the pesky pest, you are dealing with, early detection is always key. Well, prevention is more so the key, but if you can’t prevent the pest, it is best to detect it as early as possible. While earwigs are non-venomous and don’t bite, no homeowner wants to leave them lingering around the property too long. They will get in your food at night and the sight of the creepy crawlers can be downright startling to some. Because of their nocturnal nature, they are not always easy to detect. However, there are some common signs you can keep an eye out for.

Look for foul and unbearable odors near infestation sites.

Pay extremely close attention to your garden and indoor plants, as these pests feed on plants, vegetables, and fruits in your kitchen or pantry. If you see any edibles with black holes, it could be a direct indication of an earwig infestation.

At the first sign of an infestation, you’ll want to get our Austin office on the phone. We have specialized pest management pros standing by for these specific purposes.

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