Earwigs are beetle-like, short-winged, fast moving insects about one- half to one inch in length. They have chewing-type mouth parts, a pair of pincer-like appendages at the tip of their abdomen and are dark brown in color.
Earwigs usually hide in cracks, crevices, under bark or in similar places during the day, but are active foragers at night. They are usually scavengers in their feeding habits, but occasionally feed on plants, fungi, leaves, fruit and larger insects.
The name earwig is derived from an old superstition that these insects enter human ears and work their way into the brain where they become attached and eventually drive their host to madness and/or death. This fairy tale has no foundation and is entirely false. Earwigs cause no physical harm to man. Certain species have scent glands from which they can squirt a foul-smelling liquid. This is probably used for protection; however, it makes them very unpleasant when crushed.
An exterior treatment will rid you of this problem.
Pest Control, Extermination and Wildlife Management serving the Traverse City and Northern Michigan Area
10283 Elk Lake Road Williamsburg, MI 49690
Call us at 231-264-6060 or 800-264-6161
