Earwigs or pincher bugs are common in Texas. They often enter the house in Texas in search of water, food, and a place to hide during the day. Once inside your house, earwigs thrive. Many Texas homeowners dealing with an earwig invasion ask: “How to get rid of earwigs?”
Getting rid of earwigs requires insecticides. After eliminating the earwigs, you must block access points to prevent earwigs from entering your house and reduce moisture inside.
Are earwigs common in Texas?
Earwigs are common in Texas. This insect isn’t native to the state of Texas. It originates from Europe and is a common nuisance pest in Texas. Although earwigs are not harmful insects like fleas and cockroaches, they are attracted to the wet areas of homes in Texas.
These pests are attracted to wet, cool, and dark places inside and outside of your house. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about earwigs actually crawling into your ear.
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Types of Earwigs in Texas
There are two common types of earwigs or pincher bugs in Texas, the striped earwig and the European earwig.
The striped earwig is very common near water and moist places and is a predator. This type of pincher bug is attracted to light at night.
The European pincher bug is a garden pest and is common in Texas.
Earwigs in Texas House
If you live in Texas, don’t be surprised to see an earwig in your home. And if you see one earwig, you will find others. These insects do not cause structural damage like termites or ants but can be annoying inside the house.
Earwigs are known to enter homes during the summer months, which is their breeding season. Inside your home, you will find them snaking along the floor, crawling on countertops, or even climbing in the bathtub.
They are nocturnal pests. But, if you find earwigs inside your house, you might ask: “Why do I have earwigs in my house?”
What attracts earwigs in your house?
Earwigs or pincher bugs in Texas are attracted to rotting, wet leaves, moist soil or moist mulch. Like many other insects, earwigs thrive in homes because they find everything they need. These pests can hide in your crawl space, your basement, and even your kitchen and bathroom sinks. An earwig feels at home in a moist, temperature-friendly shelter.
Unlike termites, pincher bugs or earwigs don’t chew on your home’s wood frame. And unlike ants, they do not burrow tunnels. Often earwigs invade your house in search of a food source and a safe place to hide.
Outside, earwigs will eat fruit fallen from trees, rotting vegetation in the yard, and even some of your live plants. But, inside, earwigs will scavenge for garbage and leftovers. Spilled food and beverages will attract plenty of earwigs to your house.
Heat will attract earwigs to your house too. Cold weather will drive earwigs inside your home, but so does extreme heat. They will get inside your house to get away from extreme weather conditions. So, don’t be surprised if you see more earwigs in your house after a cold front or a heatwave.
Earwigs find the tiniest cracks, holes, and openings to invade your house. And because they can get through the tiniest openings, their numbers can quickly increase. You will often find earwigs around doorways, such as your front or back door, and in areas where they can easily hide while having access to food or water, such as your kitchen or bathroom.
How to get rid of earwigs naturally?
You can get rid of earwigs naturally by clearing fallen fruits, leaves, and dead plant matter. Another natural pincher bug control measure is to prune dying branches and leaves.
Clean the gutters from debris and fallen leaves, and move wood piles from the sides of your house and garden.
You can get rid of earwigs or pincher bugs using non-pesticidal methods.
Diatomaceous earth and boric acid are effective for natural earwig extermination. Both of these solutions are organic that kill pincher bugs.
Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth in your garden. Make sure to cover areas along baseboards or anywhere you see earwigs. But be aware that you must reapply this substance after it gets wet. You can blow boric acid powder into openings, crevices, and cracks to kill earwigs. But keep boric acid away from children and pets.
Are there pincher bugs in Texas?
Pincher bugs are common in Texas. Earwigs or pincher bugs are one of the top ten pests you see in and around houses in Texas. They are often seen around houses during the spring rains when their nesting zones are flooded.
Texas pincher bugs live and lay eggs in moist areas under concrete slabs, rocks, and leaves. Earwigs feed on tiny insects and plant seedlings.
Preventing pincher bugs or earwigs in Texas during summer is done by applying a pesticide mixed with a residual earwig control solution.
To get rid of pincher bugs in your house, prevention and treatment is important. The best time to start treating pincher bugs is during the winter months. Early earwig prevention will ensure fewer pincher bugs in your house during summer.
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What is an earwig?
An earwig is an insect with a reputation for crawling into your ears. That is why earwigs are generally called “pincher bugs.” But, their reputation is worse than their real-life pinch. Actually, earwigs are harmless bugs.
Earwigs are long and flat insects attracted to dark spaces. They have a flat body with two long antennae. These insects can fly – normally during spring – using their short wings, but they don’t fly long distances.
Because earwigs are nocturnal, you will find them hiding under bricks, slabs, stones, logs, and rocks during the day. These insects seek shelter in dark, moist places.
Earwigs feed on new growth and seedlings, so many gardeners want to get rid of them to prevent damage to their plants and vegetables.
How to get rid of earwigs in potted plants?
The most effective way to get rid of earwigs in potted plants is to use traps. Traps are simple to use and can eliminate pincher bugs fast.
The most effective traps have dark hiding areas, naturally attracting earwigs. This is an effective method for eliminating earwigs in potted plants because these insects seek dark shelters during the day.
Another method is to use oil traps. You can add a couple of inches of vegetable oil to a plastic cup. Once inside the cup of oil, the earwigs won’t be able to escape. This is a natural yet effective pincher bug control measure.
You can reduce earwig invasions in potted plants by modifying the area around your house. Clear the area around your house of organic debris. Decaying leaves, fruit and branches will naturally attract earwigs to your house.
Seal all cracks around windows, doors and vent holes to prevent pincher bugs from entering your house. Apply insecticides as a barrier treatment around building foundations, flower gardens or harborage areas where earwigs hide during the day.
Spray near points of entry to keep earwigs out. It’s best to spray later in the day since earwigs are active at night. Spot treatments are generally the most appropriate for controlling earwigs in potted plants. You can eliminate earwigs by treating the area around the base of the plant. The treatment will kill earwigs that crawl across the barrier.
Are earwigs harmful?
Earwigs have a bad reputation in Texas, but they are harmless. Although they are garden pests, earwigs present no harm to your health.
Why are earwigs in the bathroom?
There are multiple reasons earwigs are in your bathroom. Most importantly, earwigs are attracted to dark, moist places, making your bathroom the perfect hideout.
Earwigs or pincher bugs will feed on soaps, hair, and mildew. These pests can easily travel through water pipes. And the humidity in your bathroom is just the icing on the cake.
The good news is earwigs aren’t dangerous. So, if you find one in your bathroom, you don’t need to worry. Just remove them with a paper tissue.
Are earwigs dangerous?
Earwigs aren’t dangerous. They might have a bad reputation in Texas, but they are not dangerous. Pincher bugs are garden pests, but they are not at all dangerous.
Bugs That Look Like Earwigs
Earwigs are common pests in Texas. But people confuse earwigs or pincher bugs with many other insects.
The following bugs look like earwigs:
- Silverfish
- Cockroaches
- Termites
- Centipedes
- Scorpions
- Woodlice
- Rove Beetles
- Firebrats
- Lacewing Larvae
- Two-pronged Bristletails
- Jumping Bristletails
Fortunately, unlike termites, cockroaches, or scorpions, earwigs are harmless.
Are earwigs harmful to dogs?
Earwigs are not harmful to dogs. These insects pose no danger to dogs. You don’t have to worry about earwigs or pincher bugs biting or pinching your furry friend. They have no venom to inject into your dog’s body.
Even if earwigs use their pincers, they cannot really harm your dog. In fact, your dog might not even notice.
If there is a fight between your dog and the earwig, your dog wins—no doubt about that.
Earwigs in Bedroom
If you live in Texas, you might find earwigs in your bedroom. Your bedroom is the ideal place for earwigs because it’s generally the darkest room in your house, and these insects are attracted to dark places.
Under your blanket and pillow, earwigs find the perfect hiding place. The good news is earwigs are not harmful like bed bugs, fleas, or cockroaches. Earwigs are more of a nuisance pest than a really harmful one.