Do Earwigs Go In Your Ears? Need-To-Know Facts About These Pinchers

Earwigs are seriously intimidating-looking little bugs. They’re long and fast, and they have pincers attached to their rears, and those pincers look like they’re ready for business. And, these bugs also have a bad reputation for crawling into people’s ears while they sleep, making the ear wiggler one of the most feared insects. But the truth is, they’re not that dangerous. They just look the part.

What are earwigs?

Earwigs (also known as pincher bugs) are small, fast-moving scavenger arthropods (which aren’t actually insects) that come out at night to eat dead insects and plants. They go by several names. They’re also called pinch bugs, ear wigglers, scissor bugs, and the order Dermaptera.

Earwig insects are typically about 3/4-inch long, with slender bodies, six legs, and long antennae. Their colors are generally dark red to brown or almost black. They do have wings and can fly, but they typically prefer to stay on the ground.

They also have pincers or forceps on their rear ends called cerci. The male’s forceps are long and curved, while the female’s are short and straight. These cerci are a defense mechanism to fight off predators, but also to immobilize victims, and they’re even used in mating.

Where do earwigs live?

Earwigs live in dark, moist environments, like basements or some garages, as well as bathrooms. Earwigs burrow beneath the topsoil and living underneath the flowers, mulch, and rotting plants in a typical garden flower bed. They hide in cracks and crevices during the day and emerge at night to hunt for their favorite foods (favorite after decaying plants, that is).

It’s worth noting that the most common earwig species we’re most familiar with are the European earwigs. These are technically invasive species but they’ve been in the US for over 100 years. Like other types of earwigs, European earwigs are of no actual concern to people.

What do earwigs eat?

Earwigs are omnivorous, so their daily meals can vary. However, an earwig can eat anything from rotting plant matter to other insects, like silverfish, aphids, clover mites, fruit flies, drugstore beetles, and other insects around the house. There are also instances where predator earwigs may feed on small cockroaches and other pests, using their pincers to capture prey before biting them. They may even eat other earwigs.

After they digest these bugs, they poop out small black pellets, similar in color to spider poop but much more solid in texture.

Do earwigs go in your ear?

Contrary to popular belief, earwigs will not crawl into a person’s ear or their ear canal, or eat a human brain. The earwigs are simply nuisance pests and have very little interest in people, and crawling into an ear is not likely. This is an old superstition made up about these misunderstood insects. The name has perpetuated this rumor.

Do earwigs bite humans?

Earwigs rarely bite humans, but they can pinch (which is also a rare event). If a human or animal were to come in contact with an earwig and the earwig felt threatened, it could spring forward and latch its pincers onto the human’s skin.

If you’re wondering if an earwig bit hurts, it can but they aren’t serious. Generally speaking, the earwig pinch will be easy to remove, though the bite may be slightly painful. But, if you’re wondering, “are earwigs dangerous?” the answer is a resounding no, but some people hate bugs without prejudice. Bugs with weapons on their butts often take the cake. Since earwigs can pinch humans, humans often hate them.

What do earwig bites look like?

Earwig bites generally look like two small welts within 1/2 inch of each other. In some cases, the earwig pincers may actually break the skin, cause a sight puncture mark, and cause some discomfort.

An earwig pinch should heal quickly and rarely requires medical attention. However, the welts can become large and inflamed, and possibly cause a skin infection.

Are earwigs harmful?

Earwigs are not harmful. While an earwig can latch on with its pinching parts, this insect doesn’t carry diseases, is not poisonous, and its bite doesn’t transfer any venom. But, this is in terms of danger to people when earwigs pinch them. For insects, the earwig can be a death sentence.

Earwigs tend to be very adept hunters, so they can be harmful to many pests around a home. They feed on many of the pests homeowners and renters strive to get rid of. For this reason, homeowners should recognize that earwigs are beneficial in many ways, though they can be an indication of there being a large population of bugs in the home.

Also, since earwigs don’t live in large colonies, they’re unlikely to cause an earwig infestation a home. This species may congregate with other pincher bugs under logs or crevices, but that’s primarily because these are simply good hiding places. And, they generally choose to lay eggs outside, not in your basement.

How to Prevent Earwigs

Some ways to prevent earwigs include controlling moisture, sealing cracks and gaps around the home, and keeping the yard clean.

Control the Moisture

Most of the time, earwig problems are caused by moisture. Moist areas attract the insect food varieties that earwigs enjoy, and earwigs themselves need moist environments. Fixing leaks and using a dehumidifier can help, as can using the bathroom vent whenever anyone bathes.

Seal Cracks and Gaps Around the Home

Earwigs and other bugs can get into homes through very small cracks, gaps, and crevices. Bugs enter cracks in the foundation, gaps around windows and doors, and even penetrations where oil filler necks, hose spigots, and other items pass through exterior walls.

Keep the Yard Neat and Tidy

Keeping your yard neat and tidy is a good way to prevent earwigs and other pets from making a home in your house. Keeping grass shorter reduces moisture while preventing trees and bushes from touching the home can prevent bugs from using these highways to access the house from the ground.

Other Ways to Avoid Earwigs

Also consider the following ways to prevent earwig species from getting into the home:

• Change light bulb colors: Earwigs are attracted to bright white, but yellow bulbs are less likely to attract them
• Create a mulchless barrier around the home: Mulch retains water and acts as the perfect cover for earwigs. Rake the mulch back about 6 inches from the foundation, and sprinkle diatomaceous earth in the trench.
• Use sticky traps around the home to catch earwigs and the bugs they’re chasing.

FAQs about Earwigs

That’s a lot of information about earwigs, but there may be some additional questions lingering about. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about earwigs and their habits.

Do earwigs crawl in your ear at night?

No, earwigs don’t crawl into your ears. Many believe earwigs are so named because of a tendency to climb into ears and nibble on human brains. But, they’re actually named earwigs because their wings are shaped like a human ear (though you’ll rarely see it).

Are earwigs attracted to ear wax?

No, earwigs aren’t attracted to ear wax. This is another myth about earwigs perpetuated because of their name. However, they’re actually called earwigs because their wings are shaped like a human ear.

What do earwigs do to humans?

Earwigs don’t do anything to humans, but they can pinch (and very rarely bite). However, if you’re wondering are earwigs harmful, their pinches and bites aren’t known to cause anything more than mild discomfort.

Do earwigs go in your bed?

Earwigs can get in your bed if there’s a reason, such as following other food sources like mites, silverfish, and other pests. However, on their own, earwigs aren’t interested in getting into your bed, especially because they do not crawl into human ears or feed on human brains.

I found an earwig in fridge. Why is it there?

Earwigs typically don’t hang out in cold environments and will likely die in a fridge relatively quickly. However, it’s more likely that the earwig has been hanging out underneath and found itself crawling inside the refrigerator door to look for food.