Contrary to urban myths, earwigs do not burrow into people’s ear canals! Old legends claimed that these little silverfish-looking bugs make their way into ear canals and lay eggs, but that’s simply not true. That said, many people still fear these pesky little insects and worry about their ability to bite. Despite their intimidating looking pincers, earwigs very rarely bite humans. At worst, they will use their forceps (cerci) to pinch when threatened. Thankfully, their pinches are very minor and cause little discomfort!
All About Earwigs
These little insects have flat bodies, are typically a brown or black color, and possess visible pincers or cerci that are occasionally used for defensive purposes. Although they have wings, they very rarely use them to fly. Other facts to know about earwigs include:
- They prefer to stay hidden, and are nocturnal insects. During the day, they hide under rocks and tend to seek out damp or moist areas.
- When they make their way inside your home, they are often found old boxes, stacks of books, in the basem*nt, or even invading your kitchen.
- They aren’t picky and will eat a variety of organic matter: plants, fruits and vegetables, trash, other insects, and even plants.
Do Earwigs Bite?
Just by looking at them, you would think that earwigs are known for biting or pinching people. However, that just isn’t the case. Although earwigs have strong cerci, they almost never use them to pinch or bite humans unless directly threatened or picked up. In the rare case someone is pinched by an earwig, the symptoms will be very mild—occasionally, some irritation will result from the incident but nothing more. The good news is that these bugs actively avoid contact with people and typically scuttle away when exposed.
Preventing Earwigs in Las Vegas
Although earwigs don’t pose a threat to humans, that doesn’t mean you want to come across a nest of them in or near your home! There are a number of things you can do to make your home and yard less desirable for earwigs:
- Keep your landscape in tip-top shape: Get rid of piles of waste, avoid using decorative stepping stones, use mulch sparingly, and keep trees and shrubs trimmed away from the house.
- Inspect the perimeter of your home: Look for any obvious entry points and seal them to keep earwigs from slipping into your home.
- Promptly fix any moisture problems: Repair leaky faucets, sprinklers, and other factors that contribute to a moist environment.
If you’ve implemented all of these prevention tactics and still have a large population of earwigs on or near your property, it’s time to call for professional help. The team at Western Exterminator of Las Vegas knows how to remove earwigs and keep them from returning. Call us today to learn more!
Can Earwigs Bite or Pinch Humans? in Las Vegas NV
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Home » Can Earwigs Bite or Pinch Humans?
FAQs
Earwig Behaviors, Threats or Dangers
Do earwigs pinch humans? ›
They usually pinch humans if they feel threatened and are trying to defend themselves — not because they're looking to make a meal of you. Even if they wanted to wound you, they couldn't. Their pincers aren't very strong and will rarely break skin. Additionally, earwigs are not venomous.
What does it feel like when an earwig pinches you? ›
If you're pinched by an earwig, chances are that it feels like a small yet painless pinch. Large earwigs may cause a semi-painful pinch, but it's rare for the skin to break. If a pinch does break the skin, treat it as you would any insect bite. Clean the wound with antibiotic cream, and cover it with a bandage.
What do earwig bites look like? ›
If you fall victim to an earwig bite or its sharp pinchers, you won't experience any complications. An earwig can leave red marks on your skin from their pinchers, but they typically won't break your skin. If an earwig pinch goes deep, you may have puncture wounds on your skin and slight bleeding.
Can earwigs get in your bed? ›
How did an earwig get in my bed? If your bed is in a basem*nt, an earwig might have found its way into your bed because a humid basem*nt provides a dark, moist, habitat. It will require a route to get up into your bed.
What happens if you get pinched by an earwig? ›
The site of an earwig pinch can leave two red pinch marks that are spaced a small distance apart from one another. Sometimes, the pincers can break the skin and cause a small amount of bleeding. An earwig pinch site might become red and swollen. In most cases, the discomfort is mild and passes quickly.
What can earwigs do to you? ›
Earwigs are common nocturnal pests known to nibble on your dahlias or ripe apples. They do not feed on human flesh or blood, so they are not dangerous. They never bite, but may pinch humans with those pincers if they feel threatened. Their pincers are not strong and will rarely break the skin and draw blood.
Where do earwigs love? ›
Earwigs live on every continent except Antarctica and are most prevalent in the southern and southwestern areas of the United States. Earwigs make their homes outdoors in grasses and woods or under leaves, rocks, mulch, bark, logs, and lawn clippings.
How to get an earwig out of your ear? ›
Tilt your head to the affected side and gently shake your head to dislodge the bug. Do not hit your ear as this can lead to additional problems. If the bug is still alive, try pouring a tiny amount of vegetable oil into the ear to suffocate it. If the bug is dead, try to flush it out of the ear using warm water.
Can earwigs infest your home? ›
Earwigs do not typically prefer to thrive in our space, but through human activity or lack of good maintenance via screens, doors or conditions leading to excessive moisture, these insects can come into our apartment or house.
Earwigs do not crawl into human ears to lay their eggs. This is pure superstition. This superstition was believed to be true centuries ago. For example, in 1601, a physician's manual detailed that putting saliva into the ear can rid the ear of earwigs.
Do earwigs fly or crawl? ›
Although earwigs have the ability to fly, they rarely do. Instead, they prefer to travel by hitching a ride on flowers, luggage, newspaper and even fruits or vegetables.
Should I worry about earwigs? ›
Earwigs aren't aggressive or poisonous, don't transmit diseases, and can't inflict significant structural damage. They might be a nuisance, but they're not dangerous. They don't crawl in your ears – Despite their name, earwigs do not crawl into your ear and lay eggs in your brain. Put that worry to rest.
What brings earwigs into your house? ›
If you have earwigs entering your home it's usually because (1) their outdoor environmental conditions have changed and are now too dry or too wet or too hot, (2) you may be attracting them with outside lighting, and (3) your home has gaps or openings that accidentally let them inside.
What does it mean if you keep finding earwigs in your house? ›
When an earwig, either alone or in numbers, enters a house, it may be because conditions are harsh outside or because conditions are suitable inside. Since most earwigs like moist protected areas and rarely come into dry moving air, conditions must be just right for them to establish themselves inside.
What smell do earwigs give off? ›
The team's chemical analysis showed that the shore earwig's vile stink relies on two sulfur-based compounds, dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide. Certain plants and fungi use those compounds to mimic the whiff of rotting animals or feces, for example to attract pollinating flies that can spread fungal spores.
Can earwigs control you? ›
Earwigs can bite or pinch people, but they rarely do. Even if they pinch you with their intimidating pincers, it's unlike they'll break the skin. Other than inflicting a mild pinch, earwigs won't endanger you or your family in any way.
Can earwigs hurt me? ›
Earwigs don't bite people, but they can pinch. Those pincers on their abdomen are a weapon they use to defend themselves. While they aren't likely to pinch you, and those pincers aren't likely to break the skin, a pinch from an earwig can hurt. But, for the most part, you have nothing to fear from these insects.
Can earwigs feel pain? ›
As far as entomologists are concerned, insects do not have pain receptors the way vertebrates do.
How do you know if an earwig is in your ear? ›
Feeling fullness or pain:
If the insect starts to move around in your ear canal, it can cause a sensation of fullness in your ear, discomfort or even pain. The pain may be mild or severe, depending on the size of the insect and how far it has travelled into the ear canal.
Contrary to urban myths, earwigs do not burrow into people’s ear canals! Old legends claimed that these little silverfish-looking bugs make their way into ear canals and lay eggs, but that’s simply not true. That said, many people still fear these pesky little insects and worry about their ability to bite. Despite their intimidating looking pincers, earwigs very rarely bite humans. At worst, they will use their forceps (cerci) to pinch when threatened. Thankfully, their pinches are very minor and cause little discomfort!