The Unstoppable Earwig

In the insect world so many bugs depend on their defenses to survive

. Earwigs actually have few such armaments but still can be the most frustrating insect that keeps coming back time after time. Many home owners fear the earwig and show no mercy when they spot one in their home. Shots of Raid, fly swatters and shoes go flying when the hapless earwig makes its way across a bathroom mat or is found at the front door. The problem is that with each one killed the beleaguered resident finds another and another on a constant basis and in some situations it gets way out of control and people can see many earwigs every single day of the season.

Population growth of the earwig is not a fast process, females lay only 50 to 60 eggs early in the spring and there is usually only one generation per year. Maybe this is the reason that the mother earwig is very protective of her nest and will fight off would be attackers. Earwigs defenses are few and even though they have ominous looking pincers they are basically harmless. Besides the large pincers it seems that the legend of the earwig is what puts most home owners uneasy in their presence. Old folk lore stories say that earwigs often crawl in sleeping peoples ears at night and lodge into their brains. While there have been instances of these and other bugs getting into ear cavities it is by no means a huge on going problem.

Earwigs do best in damp situations such as leaf litter or mulch. Home owners oblige this six legged creature by adding more mulch every year on top of old and by constant watering of plants and landscaping that is close to the home. This yearly practice allows the population of the earwig to grow with each new season. Since earwigs survive the winters by hibernating the adults and new born combine to increase the numbers every twelve months. This build up continues until finally the numbers explode and it seems like 'over night' a home can be over run.

The drier the area the less you'll have earwigs and this is why inside populations can't survive very long. Earwigs are constantly on the move looking for food and it's usually an opportune crack or open door that earwigs use to get in. They often find their way to the bathroom of a house because of the lure of life giving water. There is no express strategy of the earwig to infest your home. It is mostly the wandering tendencies that eventually lead the earwig inside. As populations get bigger and food competition is tougher or if things dry out a bit you'll have earwigs on the move looking for a better situation which often leads them inside.

Earwigs are not as able bodied as other insects but find it easy to enter homes through cracks and crevices. Front door thresholds or back sliding glass doors are the most common spot you find earwigs coming in. We often place potted plants near these entries and even put welcome mats out just in front of the doors. All these items collect dampness underneath and offer the nocturnal bug a great place to hide and replenish their much needed moisture. This in turn puts the earwig in close proximity of the main entries and from there it's only a few inches from them coming into your home. With the repetitive cycles that we the home owner practice every year it's no wonder the earwig eventually explodes.

by: Dr. Doug Asher.

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