AllPro Pest Management Inc.
Providing Pest and Moisture Control You Deserve By Professionals Who Care!
Charleston, SC 843.852.0230
P.O. Box 80246 Charleston, SC 29416-0246 843.852.0230 / 843.852.0907 fax c.2007 AllPro Residential Services Co., AllPro Pest Management, Inc.
Earwigs are easily recognizable by their pincers (forceps harmless to humans) at the ends of their abdomen. They are dark reddish-brown, with light brown legs, and are about 5/8 inch long.
EARWIG BIOLOGY
In a season, females reproduce up to 20-60 eggs laid in burrows (called chambers), 2 to 3 inches beneath the soil.
Most species have one generation a year, over-wintering in the soil. Both adults and the young require moisture to live.
HABITS
Earwigs are primarily nocturnal, feeding at night. They are scavengers, eating primarily dead insects and decomposing plant materials. Some earwig species are attracted to lights.
During the day, earwigs will seek shelter under organic matter such as mulch, pine straw, leaf litter, and other debris. Earwigs prefer dark and damp areas like under sidewalks, and stones.
Earwigs eat live plants and can do damage to field crops.
Earwigs are found in homes and can get in through entry points like doors and windows, and by going up the foundation.
Their populations build up around foundations. Earwigs produce large populations rather quickly and are often a major problem in new subdivisions.
Earwigs live in habitats that also harbor centipedes, sow bugs (roly-poly), and millipedes.
EARWIG CONTROL RECOMMENDATIONS
Removing earwig habitats is very important to the control of all insects, including earwigs.
As they are attracted to lights, it might help to reduce some of the lighting outside at night.
Most insecticide treatment should be done outside with application around the building foundation, flower beds, mulch areas and turf within a couple of yards of the building, as well as in the crawl space areas of the home.
