Also known as “pincher bugs,” earwigs don’t pose a threat to your ears – despite their name. For residents of Elk Grove, there are two main types of earwigs that you’re likely to encounter.
European earwigs, or common earwigs, are nocturnal scavengers that can grow up to an inch long and prefer to spend their time in moist, cool places of your home. Striped earwigs are usually recognized by the stripes that cover their body. They aggressively hunt both living and dead insects.
While these pests prefer to stay outdoors, they can occasionally find their way inside. For Elk Grove homeowners, here’s what you should understand about why earwigs don’t pose a threat, how to prevent them around your property, and how to handle an earwig problem around your Elk Grove property.
Are Earwigs Dangerous In Elk Grove, CA?
At first glance, earwigs might look intimidating because of the large pincers that protrude from their abdomen, but these bugs don’t pose much of a threat to humans. At worst, earwigs can use their pincers, or forceps, to grab onto a finger if they’re agitated, but they’re not capable of stinging or biting you. In some cases, these pincers may feel uncomfortable, but they rarely break the skin.
If you get pinched by an earwig, and it breaks the skin, it’s still a good idea to treat the scratch with an antibiotic cream or lotion. These bugs spend a lot of time in the soil and can pick up germs there.
How To Prevent Earwigs In Elk Grove, CA
Whether they’re hanging around outside or they’ve accidentally made it inside, there are a couple of tips you can use to prevent earwigs on your Elk Grove property, including:
- Eliminate their hiding places. When they’re outside, earwigs love to burrow into leaf piles, woodpiles, and other excess vegetation that may be around your property. Reducing mulch and dead leaves, and maintaining your yard can greatly reduce earwig hiding spots.
- Deal with excess moisture and drainage problems. Earwigs are big fans of moisture, so they may be attracted to places where there’s a lot of it. Around your property, it’s important to fix any leaky pipes, flooded or obstructed gutters, and any other drainage issues that could attract earwigs. You can even use a dehumidifier in your basement to prevent excess moisture.
- Get rid of their access points. Like a lot of pests, earwigs may use holes, gaps, and cracks in your home’s foundation to their advantage. Sealing off these potential entry points will get rid of earwig access points.
- These tips will all help to minimize the risk of attracting earwigs to your property.
How To Get Rid Of Earwigs In Elk Grove, CA
Although earwig infestations in your home are usually rare, that doesn’t mean they don’t happen, especially if you’ve got an infestation outside of your home. Rather than face those pincers on your own, leave earwig infestations up to the professionals, like those of us at Pro Active Pest Control.
If you’re worried about earwigs or spotting them around your property, don’t hesitate to contact us at Pro Active Pest Control for more tips or assistance.