One of the most common myths in the insect world is the ever prominent one surrounding earwigs! So do earwigs really burrow into human ears? We’ll answer that myth as well as a few others surrounding these pests!
The idea that earwigs burrow into human ears and lay their eggs in your brain while you’re sleeping originated from an old wives tale. Most people thing this is why their names are earwigs! This wives tale however is false! So don’t worry, you don’t need to be afraid of them finding their way into your ears and laying their eggs in your brain. The name earwig actually comes from the Old English Era. It comes from eare, which means “ear”, and then wicga, which means “insect”. So they got their names not from the fact that they crawl into peoples ears, but instead because of the Old English words used to describe them which literally mean insect.
Another myth surrounding earwigs is that they only live outdoors and occasionally find their way into houses and buildings. Sadly, this myth is only partially true! While it is rare for them to nest inside your home, they will frequently find their way into your home and infest the building. They wander in through doors and windows in the search of food. A small earwig problem can very quickly become a large earwig infestation!
One more myth surrounding earwigs is that their pinchers are poisonous and will spread disease. This is not true! Their pincers do not contain any toxins nor do they spread any diseases. That being said, their pinch can hurt and is not something that you’d want to experience. They will not actively try to pinch you but will in self defense so you are only likely to be pinched if you make contact with it. To avoid any unexpected earwig pinches, it is best to get help from professionals! If you are having any earwig problems on your property or in your home, we can help! To learn more, visit our website at https://reconpestservices.com/pests/earwigs or call us at (402)22-RECON.
