Ah, so you’ve come to this blog to learn about ear wigs. Perfect! Ear wigs are a sensitive subject for some people, generally male, who have ear patterned baldness. Luckily, there is a solution: ear wigs! Tiny wigs that fit right on top of the ear, and – wait, what? You came here to learn about earwigs, the bug? Who would want to read about that!? Well, apparently we do, since we have a whole bunch of information about them, so touché.
Before you look at this page and run away screaming, just remember that earwigs are generally misunderstood insects, but that doesn’t make them any less of a pest. Earwigs get their names from the Old English words eare and wicga, which mean ear and insect, respectively. Some folklore has said that earwigs will burrow into a humans ear and into their brain to lay their eggs. While their name may imply that earwigs reside inside of human ears, nothing could be further from the truth. Which is good, because if not we were planning on sleeping with our ears taped shut tonight. Earwigs enjoy living and breeding in small moist areas. Earwigs are also nocturnal, and like to be in shady cracks during daylight. Earwigs look like this:
Earwigs are easily recognizable with their iconic pincers. Earwigs have long, flat bodies that can reach up to 2 inches long, with forceps pincers coming out the rear of their abdomens. Female earwigs have straight pincers while males’ pincers are curved. Earwigs use these pincers to capture their prey and for defense. Some earwigs have wings, but almost never use them to fly. Instead, they use them as nightmare fuel for us to realize that there might be a time when the earwigs decide to rise up against us with their wings and their pincers and take over the world.
If you’ve never seen an earwig before, consider yourself lucky. Although they look fairly harmless in a picture, the way earwigs move and how they can move their abdomen to put their pincers up defensively can be frightening to many people. Earwigs will pinch humans if they feel threatened, but they don’t actually burrow into people’s brains and lay their eggs like folklore suggests.
WHY ARE EARWIGS PESTS?
Although their presence is frightening and a pinch from their pincers can be painful, earwigs are considered pests because of the havoc they can wreck on gardens, plants, and types of wood. Earwigs are known for causing loss to farmers when eating their crops. Thus, they will eat foods within your pantry and fridge if you have an infestation of them.
CAN A HOME WARRANTY GET RID OF EARWIGS?
How do I get rid of the infernal pincer wielding bugs? I mean … earwigs?
The best thing for you to do with your earwig population is to stop plugging your ears with cotton before you go to sleep, and call your home warranty company. If you have a home warranty with the right plan in the right state, a home warranty can get you pest control treatments for a reasonable price. If you have the best home warranty company, which is, of course, Landmark Home Warranty, you can get pest control for a flat rate fee of $60. Considering that other pest control options generally cost you between $500 and $1000, you can save a lot of money with a home warranty, especially on other home systems and appliances that may fail to normal wear and tear.
For more information about home warranties, go to www.LandmarkHW.com. That is Landmark Home Warranty's website, where you can learn more about home warranty coverage, read home warranty reviews, and know why we are the best home warranty company.