When you use Claremore Pest Control, You will reach Platinum Pest and Lawn. You will quickly realize that we treat for a wide variety of pests. One pest we hear about is the earwig bug. This bug is also known as the pincher bug. Earwigs are a bit startling to see when we pick up a garden planter or draw back the shower curtain, but if you can get past their look, they are actually fascinating little creatures. They nurture their young, are upstanding members of the ecosystem and, as far as pests go, they’re one of the easier ones to mitigate. To mitigate these creepy pests, it is best to use Claremore Pest Control. That way you will come across Platinum Pest and Lawn.
Earwigs, also known as pincher bugs, are insects known for their distinctive pinchers on the back of their abdomen. They are mostly nocturnal, live in moist shady places and are anciently related to crickets and cockroaches. They are considered both home and garden pests, but are also ecologically beneficial to have around, and luckily earwig infestations around our homes are not too common. Earwigs got their name from old wives tales of them burrowing into people’s ears, but thankfully they don’t actually do that. This is a myth and has no scientific basis. However, the translation of their name is the same in many languages. In French it translates to ear perforator. In German, it translates to earworm. How earwigs became associated with ears is uncertain. Whether they truly climb into our ears or not, it’s not a pest I would want around. I would use Claremore Pest Control and schedule with Platinum Pest and Lawn as soon as possible.
Worldwide, there are 1,800 to 2,000 species of pincher bugs, with about two dozen of those living in North America. Some species are as small as an apple seed, while others are longer than an inch. The now extinct Saint Helena giant earwig was the largest, measuring up to 3 inches long, and was only found on Saint Helena, a volcanic island in the South Atlantic. Male earwig pinchers are curved and they use them to seduce females and to fight other males. Female earwigs, who have straight forceps, use them as scissors to defend their young against predatory arthropods, like small spiders and scorpions. Although these bugs don’t climb into our ears, they do pinch. earwig bugs will pinch humans, but only when threatened, and when that happens, thankfully it’s not too painful. Their pinchers, while intimidating, are used to defend against other insects and for sparring with rivals, so they don’t need to be powerful enough to use against humans. Fortunately for us they are also not venomous or disease spreading. Use Claremore Pest Control today if you would like to get rid of any pests by scheduling with Platinum Pest and Lawn.
One of many reasons to use Claremore Pest Control is the smell that earwig bugs have. Many earwigs species use chemical sprays for defense. They have glands on the dorsal side of their abdomen that spray a foul smelling chemical to deter predators. The smell is not as bad as that of true bugs, such as stink bugs, but it is still not very pleasant for us. Earwigs near our homes are most commonly found where mulch, leaves or other detritus covers the ground. They also seem to prefer fruit and produce from fruiting vegetables that are starting to get over ripe. Earwig courtship is intricate and varies, but often males tap and stroke their abdomens with their pincers to court potential mates, and female earwigs may bite males to pick up chemical cues. When earwigs find their mates, they become amorous acrobats. Female earwigs will raise their abdomens, and males will grab on with their pincers and twist their abdomens 180 °. This position could be held for hours as they mate. Some males also have multiple appendages for mating, in case one breaks off or gets damaged during the process.
We will typically see more earwigs in spring and summer since they often stay underground during the colder months. They qualify as social insects because they nest in family groups and can form large groups of thousands of individuals. However, there is no reproductive hierarchy in these groups, contrary to what is observed in ants and bees. Earwig couples typically find a warm nook to overwinter together, such as under stones, firewood piles or leaf cuttings. After mating in the spring, the female kicks the male out, perhaps because males are known to eat the offspring. The mother then stays with them for about 2 months, caring for the eggs and feeding the young once they hatch. Earwigs typically live for about a year. Earwigs have forewings and hind wings. The forewings cover and protect their hind wings, which are a very thin fan-like structure. Those fold under and come out for short flights. While earwigs can fly, they rarely do. Inside, earwigs prefer damp, cool areas like crawl spaces, unfinished basements and plumbing lines. In the garden, areas with ample food and moisture, like compost, leaf litter, wood piles and rotting plants, provide earwigs with the food, water, and shelter they need to survive. They are also often attracted to oily, greasy or sweet foods.
Many animals eat earwigs, including wild birds, chickens, lizards, frogs, centipedes, spiders and yellow jackets. If you don’t want to wait around for something to come eat the earwigs at your home, this would be a perfect time to use Claremore Pest Control, so that Platinum Pest and Lawn can come out and remove these quicker and more efficiently.Despite their name and the widespread belief that earwigs climb into your ear, actual recorded incidences of this are very rare. However, occasionally, bugs have had to be removed from human ears, including small moths, beetles and spiders. While it’s highly unlikely, if you suspect anything is sharing your headspace, you’ll want to consult a medical professional. Earwigs are known to be a few millimeters to a few centimeters in size. They are brownish and have distinct pinchers on their abdomens, hence their other common name, pincher bugs. Earwigs will naturally steer clear of sunlight and dry areas without a lot of clutter. It is recommended to clean up organic debris, like wood and paper, from damp areas like basements and yards to prevent from getting an earwig infestation.
