Earwig Crawling in the Ear: Myth or Truth (2024)

FAQs

Earwig Crawling in the Ear: Myth or Truth? ›

Even more disturbing, the mistaken belief held that once in the ear, these insects can tunnel into your brain and lay eggs there. This, too, is false. These bugs aren't even interested in entering the human ear. The adult earwig is brownish-black and about three-quarters of an inch long.

Although an ancient myth that earwigs burrow through the external auditory canal and eat sleeping persons' brains is considered unfounded, these bugs sometimes do enter the ear, causing severe ear discomfort.

Though earwigs aren't dangerous, they are a warning sign that your home may have water-damaged wood, or another pre-existing pest problem that is damaging the wood of your home. When these bugs appear, you should definitely have a professional pest control technician do a detailed inspection to assess the issue.

Earwigs can pinch a human, but they typically won't even go near humans.

Their unsettling appearance may make you uneasy, but these nocturnal pests won't creep near your face at night. However, they could still leave you concerned about an earwig bite, especially if you've noticed a few scurrying around your home.

Despite conventional wisdom, it is by no means uncommon to have your ears invaded by bugs. According to Benjamin McGrew, M.D., an associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, at the University of Alabama, people with bugs stuck in their ears enter their clinic at least four to five times per year.

Can a bug lay eggs in your ear? As mentioned earlier, bugs that enter the ear usually die quickly. For this reason, they are very unlikely to lay eggs in the ear canal.

All in all, earwigs aren't dangerous. They don't usually bite people or spread disease. But you could get pinched by their “claws” if you pick up an earwig. The pinch might hurt, but their pincers don't have venom.

Like many other insects, earwigs are attracted to moisture. They love moist or rotting wood. If you have a broken or obstructed gutter, a leaky spigot, or some other condition that is allowing moisture to build up on or around your home, this may be what is drawing earwigs to your home. Earwigs are drawn to plants.

Along with other scavengers like millipedes, pillbugs, and sowbugs, earwigs help to break down dying plant material. They may not be beneficial, though, if you own a greenhouse or are trying to grow vegetable seedlings. In large numbers, earwigs can damage living plants and can be greenhouse pests.

How to get earwigs out of your ears? ›

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.

Diet of Earwigs

So, what do earwigs eat? Contrary to some myths, earwax isn't anywhere on the list.

If you've found an earwig in bed with you, it is likely that you have covers that were touching the floor, or your bed has a skirt on it. If your bed is on the second floor, and you've found an earwig in your bed, we would guess that you came in from the outside with an earwig on your clothing.

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.

One example would be if temperatures drop and the earwigs invade, seeking warmth. Another possibility would be if conditions start to dry in the earwigs' normal shelter. If there is a damp basem*nt area with perhaps much clutter and even leaves that have blown in, there can be an abundance of moisture and cover.

Supposedly, earwigs are attracted to the smell of the soy sauce, but the vegetable oil will prevent them from climbing out of the trap. Earwigs are nocturnal and attracted to bright light, so you can put a nightlight near any of these traps to increase their effectiveness.

Of course, there is no truth to these tales, though earwigs, like moths, beetles, co*ckroaches, ants and flies may wander into our ear canals by accident. You should know though that earwigs are unique in that they provide some parental care of their young.

According to Dr. Pritt, for the most part, eating a bug isn't cause for worry. In general, your body will digest arthropods, which include arachnids like spiders, mites, and ticks, and insects such as gnats, flies, mosquitoes, fleas, and bedbugs, “just like any other food,” she says.