There are various frightening common pests, but earwigs might be considered the scariest of them all.Maybe it seems frightening because of the appearance, ominous name, and general mysteriousness. They are prey to many predators.There are several misconceptions regarding earwigs. Some people believe earwig have poison, some others believe they can crawl into our ears. It’s finally time to clarify all these doubts about this insect being dangerous, or are they a cause for concern or threat, or are earwigs harmful? Myths are also there that they crawl into our ears and lay eggs in our brains. Read on to know all answers about earwigs after which you should also check where do earwigs come from and are earwigs harmful?Are earwigs dangerous or poisonous to humans?Do they hurt us? Yes, only when it’s in the body of another insect and not in our body. These cerci species are used in the process of mating. Hence, earwigs do not harm the human body unnecessarily.This insect can technically bite humans. But that’s highly unlikely. Unlike bed bugs or mosquitoes, they do not feed on blood to survive; they are found eating decay matters. Thus, they don’t seek out human hosts. They sometimes sting only to defend themselves.They have a behavior of being grasped while using their forceps when agitated but they neither sting nor are dangerous. Earwigs are neither poisonous nor do they have venom. Meanwhile, mosquitoes and bed bugs injure people by biting us. But as stated above earwigs do not sting as they lack the stinger, accordingly do not have venom or have a poison sac. Earwigs bite cause some discomfort and also break the skin in rare cases as they have a physical feature that acts while pinching with forceps.They are usually harmless. A forceps-like pincer which is also known as cerci at the one end of our abdomen is called earwigs. They differ from male to female as in curved on males and straight on females. Now, these pincers or cerci are a very important part of their body as they give a menacing look to our earwigs.These pests do not pose a threat to any homeowners but European earwigs might cause harm to the homes and the gardens. Like every other species, these are also very fond of seedling plants and soft fruits especially sweet corn. It also causes a lot of damage to many flowers like dahlias, roses, and marigolds.Are earwigs harmful to cats and dogs?In general, earwigs aren’t a hazard to cats or dogs. They aren’t actually aggressive insects that could purposely harm household animals when they come in contact with them by mistake. But if it ever receives anxiety then it might also sting.Do earwigs crawl into your ears?Well, this is the number one myth of all others. Thus, they do not enter into the ears and make the people’s ears infested. These earwigs have a structure that is dark, warm, humid places have a technical tendency to get attracted to a sleeping person’s ear. Although it’s an unlikely occurrence. Hence these bugs do not get into your ear or lay eggs and also there isn’t anything to worry about.But earwigs do enter our homes if there is some moist place or cracks and crevices. They evade our homes during the fall. The motive of these pests invading our houses during the fall is that they are looking for a safe haven from the weather. Earwigs are attracted to moist areas and light. They will comply with leaking light coming through cracks, crevices, holes, and gaps with the intention to permit them to sneak quietly into houses.What are the symptoms of injuries caused by earwigs?Do you think earwigs pinch in order to make a meal of you? No, that’s not true. They basically pinch people only when they feel threatened or when they’re trying to defend themselves. Their pincers act as a defense mechanism against other insects as well as help in attracting a mate or intimidating.Usually, earwigs will only pinch you, in case you attempt to lift them up or deal with them. These pincers possibly aren’t strong enough to rupture your skin, however, the pinching would possibly harm you a little by leaving a small bruise or welt.If an earwig pinches, it is able to leave an impression of two red pinch marks which are spaced a small distance aside from one another. Very hardly it occurs that the pincers rupture the skin and cause a small quantity of bleeding. It is frequently seen that the pinch area is red and swollen.If you’re bitten by a earwig, start your treatment by checking whether the skin is broken or not. If it isn’t broken then, wash the area with soap and warm water. And if it is broken, then make sure you apply topical antibacterial cream or gel on the wound to prevent a possible infection from occurring. If redness or swelling of the area takes place, then apply an ice pack, which will surely reduce the discomfort. If you find that after two days it’s the same, then you need to go and check a doctor as it is a symbol of danger.Safety Concerns When Getting Rid Of EarwigsUsing pesticides can help you get rid of earwigs. You can make the pest by combining equal parts Isopropyl Alcohol 70% and water in a spray bottle and then shake it to mix. It kills the earwigs when you spray it on them. Spraying it around the foundation of your home, in the flowerbeds, and plants in the garden near, where the earwig infestation is most.You may save yourself from earwig pinches simply by keeping minimal touch with it every time possible. When you find them in your house, wear a further layer of safety via means of wearing gloves, after which throw away the earwig. You can save them by taking steps to stop them from entering by keeping them clean, throwing away all the damp and moist items, rotten food.How do I get rid of earwigs?Species like earwigs enter our homes too. They get inside the house structure in the gaps and holes through the cracks. Additionally, these are always ready to get inside through homeowner activities. Taking an example, they enter our homes while they get inside the newspaper bundle, boxes, lumber, books, and plants which are often taken to our home or business.These earwigs use the paths made by other insects like carpenter ants, termites, and other wood-destroying organisms, to get inside the home structure. They also enter through the holes that are being made by the rodents as well. And their other free entries happen through the broken or obstructed gutter system that was damaged due to water overflow too. They also get attracted to rotten vegetation, damp soil, sweet food, compost. Earwigs are always attracted to bright lights when they scurry around outside at night.Earwigs are considered a nuisance to people. Their infestations must be cleared. You can easily do so by using sprays made with dish soap and water and rubbing alcohol and water. Applying the boric acid powder to those out-of-reach areas helps in killing these pests. You can also use earwig pesticides that are available in the market.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are earwigs dangerous then why not take a look at are iguanas dangerous, or earwig facts.
There are various frightening common pests, but earwigs might be considered the scariest of them all.
