Four Steps To Get Rid Of Earwigs
Have you been seeing long, slender bugs with pincers on their back sides in various areas around your home? Chances are, the bugs invading your home are earwigs. They were named for the legend that they can burrow into your ears and eat your brain. Thankfully, this legend is false and the pests are fairly harmless. But they do contaminate your home, so you'll want to take steps to get rid of them. Here are four steps you can follow to get rid of earwigs.
1. Check Your Gutters
Earwigs often populate the area outside a home before they move into the home itself. They love moisture, so if the area immediately outside your home is very moist, earwigs will start to congregate. Check your gutters to ensure they are properly draining away from your home. They should be projecting the water out, away from your foundation rather than letting it pool near the base of your home. You might need to unplug your gutters if they are blocked. You may also need to extend your downspouts so that they deposit water further away from your home's foundation.
2. Check for Plumbing Leaks
Earwigs are also more likely to invade your home when your home itself offers a good source of moisture. Usually, this moisture comes from a plumbing leak -- probably one you're not fully aware of yet. Look over your pipes in the basement and make sure there's no moisture accumulation on them. Also, check under your sinks to see whether there is water draining from any of the pipes. Clean up any water you find, and contact your plumber to make repairs.
3. Install a Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier will draw moisture out of the air, which will help make your whole home less appealing to pests like earwigs. You can find portable dehumidifiers for an affordable price. Set one up in the basement, and perhaps a second one near your bathroom or kitchen. Alternatively, you can install a whole-home dehumidifier, which costs a bit more, but will keep your whole home dryer.
4. Apply Insecticides
Finally, you should apply insecticides to the perimeter of your home's foundation. This will create a barrier that the bugs won't want to cross, so new earwigs do not enter your home. You can hire a pest control company like JD Termite & Pest Control Company to come apply the insecticide if you do not feel comfortable doing this yourself.