Earwigs

Earwigs (the scientific name Dermaptera) have about 1,800 species, the scientific name is divided into two parts, the first one means the skin and the second one means the wing, they are nocturnal insects that are active at night, during the day they hide in the holes, cracks, under the rocks, trunks, flowers, they eat plants and insects, they are attracted to the lights, cause a nuisance to humans especially in the summer evening.

There is a famous myth about earwigs, which is that they enter the human ear drum to lay eggs inside and hide seeking for warmth, but there is no scientific evidence that earwigs do so, people are afraid of earwigs, because they have tweezers in the abdominal region, they use it to defend themselves at Danger.

Earwigs identification

Earwig is a rectangular in shape and has a slender body, there are a pair of wings on chest area, the first one is small, covered with skin, the second is large and has a membranous shape, earwigs folds its wing at rest, the abdomen resembles tweezers, body length ranges from 4 to 80 mm, it has a uniform color of brown, black, light brown, yellow, or green metallic.

Earwigs life cycle

female lays 30 to 50 eggs, nymphs leave the egg and go through four or five stages, the important stages are eggs, nymphs, the adult earwigs,

• Egg

Fall and winter are mating season to earwigs, female holds eggs until it finds a suitable place to lay eggs, it digs the cell in a suitable place such as leaves, soil, gaps and cracks, female lays from 20-80 eggs, it can lay Eggs twice per season, female takes care of the eggs until the date of hatching When the female lays eggs inside the cell, it takes care of the eggs and cleans them from fungi and parasites, it returns them back in the cell, once the eggs hatch, the female provides food for nymphs until they are ready to depend on themselves, the female carries eggs inside for few Months, eggs will hatch within seven days.

• nymphs stage

The nymph stage passes 4-6 stages before reach mature stage, every time itgets rid of the old skin until a new layer of skin grows, the nymph grows and it does not look very similar to the adult earwigs, as nymphs are lighter in color, turn into a darker and more solid color within 40-60 days.

• Adult stage

when the nymph completes the last transformation, it turns into the adult earwigs, which consists of wings and antennae and forceps in the abdominal area, the earwigs begins hunting, flying, mating and repeating the life cycle.

Earwigs Food

Earwigs is a predatory insect, they eat other insects, some eat plants, leaves, organic materials, fungi, skin glands secretions of bats or dead insects.

Where earwigs live?

earwigs live in humid cracks, you can find it under leaves, stones they enter home to search for a shelter and warmth Earwigs invade the house to find shelter, food, or because of climate change, they enter the house from open doors, they also prefer humid areas earwigs are found in areas where there is water, such as kitchens, bathrooms, washbasins, bedrooms and living room.

How can I get rid of earwigs?

• get rid of earwigs hiding places.
• use of pesticides to get rid of earwigs, clean the house and remove food, wood, stones away from home, and get rid of humidity problems.
• Create a free area next to the house where there is no fallen leaves or organic materials from 6 to 12 inches from the house.
• Maintaining a proper sanitation system by examining the water pipes and ensure safety.
• Reduce the outer lights to get rid of earwigs ,you may use Yellow lights and place white lights which are more attractive to earwigs, also seal any entry points and repair openings.
• Check the house and remove hiding places of earwigs.
• Ventilate the house well to ensure sun exposure.
• Contact a pest control company in Jeddah to examine the home and develop a treatment plan.