Insect Control Services: Earwigs
Earwigs are one of the most disliked insects and can be found outside and sometimes inside our properties throughout Ontario. Earwigs migrate in groups and prefer to live in dark, moist areas beneath stones, boards, sidewalks and debris.
Background: Earwigs
Earwigs are reddish-brown, approximately 2 cm long, with antennae and a noticeable set of pincers which protrude from the abdomen. The pincers of the male are curved whereas those of the female are straight. Earwigs have wings but they are rarely used for flying.
Preferred Environments
Earwigs prefer to live outside, but when food is scarce and the climate is dry, they may enter our properties through existing holes and cracks or on humans in search of food and damp conditions. They are most common in the warm summer months, June, July, and August, and become dormant during the winter.
Treatments & Solutions
When earwigs do invade homes, they are more a nuisance as they can get into laundry, furniture, food, and even clothing and bedding. They will hide in cracks and crevices throughout the home and are most likely to be found hiding in basements, kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, storage areas, and other damp, dark areas.