Warning Signs That Your Woodlands Home Has Termites
September 28, 2023
What early warning signs of termites do you need to know? Find out today how to identify these pests before they take over your Woodlands property.
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While there are some common pests in Plano, Texas that you probably think about regularly as a property owner, there are others that you may not be as familiar with. One fairly common pest that many people don’t know a lot about is the earwig. There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding these small insects, so it’s helpful to know the truth about them including how to prevent them.
What Are Earwigs?
Earwigs are long, flat insects with six legs, a pair of antennae, and a pair of forceps that extend from the end of their bodies. They can reach up to an inch in length and are reddish-brown to black in color. Despite their strange and off-putting appearance, earwigs aren’t actually a dangerous pest, but they are still frustrating to have around.
It’s also worth noting that earwigs prefer to live outdoors and are often found under rocks and leaves or in firewood. Earwigs come inside at times to look for shelter and prey, and they are usually found hiding under cabinets or near baseboards once indoors.
Do Earwigs Pose Any Health Risks?
Because they have a pair of pincers, many people worry about being bitten by earwigs. However, while it’s possible for earwigs to pinch you, it’s very rare that they will break the skin. Overall, they aren’t going to seek to attack you, so the chances of being pinched are pretty slim.
Earwigs also aren’t known to spread any pathogens or illnesses that can harm people, so they don’t pose any serious health or safety risks. The only real concern with earwigs is that they can ruin plants, but the damage is generally pretty minimal.
Another myth you might have heard about earwigs is that they often crawl inside of ears and lay eggs in human brains, but this is just a tall tale. While they could accidentally crawl inside your ears, they aren’t going to try to do so.
Seven Simple Earwig Prevention Tips
For the most part, earwigs are considered a nuisance pest, but they are generally unsettling to look at. They aren’t a pleasant pest to share your home or business with, so there are some easy steps you should take to prevent earwigs from coming onto your property.
While these tips can’t ensure you’ll never have earwigs, they can greatly reduce the risk.
- Repair or replace any broken screens in both doors and windows around your home.
- Reduce humidity around the building by fixing broken plumbing as humidity can attract earwigs and other pests.
- Throw out decaying organic matter on your property such as dead wood, dead grass, and leaf piles.
- Keep firewood stored about 30 feet away from the exterior of the building and make sure it is stacked neatly.
- Earwigs are also attracted to light sources, so ensure that outdoor lighting points away from your home or business.
- To make it harder for earwigs to get inside, install weather stripping and door sweeps.
- Look around the walls and foundation for cracks and crevices and fill them with caulk or foam.
The Most Effective Way To Prevent Earwigs
Following the steps in this guide will definitely make it more difficult and less likely for earwigs to invade your Plano property, but you could still end up with an infestation. The overall best way to prevent earwigs and also remove them is with help from the experts at All-Safe Pest & Termite. We have over 30 years of experience providing residential and commercial pest control to the area, and we offer service plans that will keep earwigs from becoming a problem throughout the year.
Discover more about our pest control options, or request a free estimate, by reaching out to us online or over the phone.
