EARWIGS

Let’s get this out of the way: No, earwigs do not lay eggs in people’s ears. They do not intentionally seek out human ears. Any reports you may have heard otherwise, assuming the source was someone you trust, were likely the results of an insect just as disturbed by the encounter as the human. But that doesn’t mean finding an earwig in your house is something you need to be pleased about.

Earwigs have the unfortunate problem of looking like dangerous bugs. Their tell-tale pincers seem like they could cause a nasty pinch. And what about the diseases some bugs can transmit? Luckily, looks are deceiving when it comes to earwigs. Earwigs pincers aren’t strong enough to harm a human being. Earwigs aren’t vectors of any known diseases. Other than their intimidating appearance, and the general unpleasantness of bugs in your home, earwigs are mostly harmless.

The biggest way earwigs get into your house is through an open door. Earwigs like to spend time in areas where they can quickly hide. Decks and porches are perfect for them because they have lots of cracks for them to duck into. An earwig in your home likely wandered in there by mistake when you were bringing in groceries or some other chore that required the door be left open for longer than usual. If you do find an infestation, it’s likely going to be found near a water source, such as a leaky pipe. In either event, removing the earwigs already present in your home will usually take care of the problem.

Earwigs are intimidating. They’re gross. It’s perfectly reasonable to want them out of your house as soon as possible. But don’t be too alarmed if you do see them in your home. They are a common pest, but they are a fairly manageable one. As long as you are taking precautions to maintain a pest free home, you shouldn’t be too afraid of earwigs. And finding them in your home isn’t any reason to invest in earmuffs to sleep in.

Probably.