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What attracts earwigs in your house?
For example, earwigs may get inside with bundles of newspapers, boxes, lumber, books and plants that are moved inside a home or business. It is also common for earwigs to move inside from their outdoor habitats and locations when lights attract them.
Why do earwigs suddenly appear?
If the outside becomes too hot or too dry, they might enter your home and seek shelter in a damp area. Earwigs prefer cool damp spaces, and if the inside of your home provides that when the outside doesn’t, they will enter your house.
Do earwigs cause problems?
Earwigs are a problem only during summer. They are most active at night and hide during the day in dark, confined, damp areas. They can enter homes and other buildings, sometimes in large numbers. They do not cause damage to people, property or food and are only a nuisance.
Should I worry about earwigs in my house?
Once inside, they don’t cause many problems. They don’t bite, but they may pinch if they feel threatened. Those pincers aren’t very strong and hardly affect humans. There is also the possibility that they are carrying harmful bacteria and could potentially infect an open wound if exposed, but that’s fairly uncommon.
How do you get rid of earwigs fast?
Kill earwigs on contact by spraying them with a mixture of equal parts of 70 percent rubbing alcohol and water. Note: Spray just one leaf of a plant before treating the entire plant and wait 24 hours to be sure it won’t cause damage. Use boric acid, sold at hardware stores, in areas where you’ve seen earwigs.
What will deter earwigs?
In most cases, earwigs are harmless to people and don’t like to be near them but can cause damage when there are infestations. There are many scents you can use to repel earwigs, such as eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, lemon, cinnamon, basil, lavender oil, clove oil, rosemary oil and white vinegar.
How do you keep earwigs away?
Remove leaf piles, excess vegetation, and any stored wood from around the yard. Keep mulch, dead leaves, and other vegetation 6 to 12 inches away from your home’s foundation. Finally, trim trees and shrubs to help eliminate damp, shady areas, especially near the house.