Earwigs are insects with large antennas and a pair of pincers attached to their abdomen.The common myth is that earwigs are extremely dangerous to human beings. However, they do not bite and are harmless pests.Earwigs are small insects with a pair of large antennas and pincers attached to the lower part of their abdomen, which they use to protect themselves. They inhabit places with moisture and can therefore be found in any damp quiet place like; under rotting wood, mulch, and decaying piles of vegetation. They do not pose any direct threat to human beings, however, having a large number of these insects in one’s home can be troublesome for an individual. The diet of these insects largely includes leaves, flowers of a variety of plant species, and other insects as well. There are multiple ways to get rid of these insects from one’s home. They also serve as a delicious meal for human beings if properly cooked. Unlike other insects, they do not have any poison in their body and can therefore be consumed as food by human beings. Read on to know more about; are earwigs dangerous to humans? and are earwigs harmful to plants?If you enjoy this article, why not also read: ‘Are Dandelions Weeds?’ and, ‘Are Fruit Flies Harmful?’ here on Kidadl?What are earwigs and why are they called that?Earwigs are small insects that are very common in a human household. They derive their unique name from the age-old myth that they can crawl into the ear of a human being and feed on the brain or lay eggs.They can be found almost all around the world, except for the region of Antarctica. The dark and damp areas are mostly the places they inhabit, and they are most active during the nights. Earwigs are black or brown in color, and their body is divided into three parts. There is pair of pincers located at the end of the abdomen of these insects, which they use to attack their predators if threatened or even pinch human beings. The name earwigs come from the ancient myth that they attack human beings by crawling through the ear and laying eggs inside our heads. However, that is not true at all since this insect is quite harmless and does not pose any serious threat to humans.Are earwigs harmful to humans?Earwigs are totally harmless and do not bite human beings. Although, a large group of these insects in one’s home can be troublesome for a person.Unlike other insects, this bug does not possess any venom and therefore cannot sting a human being. However, they might use their pincers to pinch a human being when they feel threatened. It might cause mild discomfort for an individual. The pincers of earwigs are not hard enough to break or penetrate the skin of a human being. In the rarest cases, the pinch of these bugs can break the skin of human beings. In such cases, antibiotic creams can be applied to treat the wounded skin. There has been no known case of dangerous injury caused by earwigs to human beings. In emergency cases, one should contact a physician to seek help.Earwigs also do not pose any threat to the cats and dogs at one’s home either. Like human beings, they can also get pinched by these insects, however, the wound inflicted on their body is very mild and almost painless. Earwigs do not have any poison in their body; therefore, even if a dog or cat happens to mistakenly eat one, it will not be a life-threatening situation for the pets.How To Get Rid Of EarwigsEarwigs are largely nocturnal creatures and prefer damp and moist areas. They can mostly be found in gardens and rarely can be seen indoors. One way to identify infestations is by looking for any holes or ragged ends on the leaves and flowers of the plants. However, spotting them during the day can be difficult since they avoid sunlight and are most active during the night.Using a mixture of dish soap and water to spray on the moist areas they have infested is one of the many successful ways of getting rid of them for good. Other methods include spraying pesticides like Sevin and pyrethrins on areas where they can be seen. Since they are extremely fond of damp soil to live in, using boric acid powder is yet another way to get rid of them. Earwigs are drawn towards bright lights. Therefore keeping the lights off in the garden or outdoor areas of one’s house at night can also prove to be an effective method to prevent them.Are earwigs poisonous to eat?Unlike other species of bugs, earwigs are not dangerous or poisonous at all and could serve as delicious food to human beings.Since they do not have venom in their body, they can be an essential ingredient of delicious food to be cooked at one’s home. The various ways of cooking earwigs are; by tossing them in vegetable oil and cooking or by simply roasting them as well. Earwigs are known to have a similar taste to that of soft-shell crabs.However, although they are not harmful to humans, they are to plants. These pests survive in areas with adequate moisture and therefore prefer damp or moist soil, woods, mulch, and other dark areas to lay eggs. They can be largely found hiding outdoors, like a garden or yard. These pests feed on the petals or leaves of plants. The clearest signs of infestations by these pests are small holes or ragged edges on a plant. It might be difficult to spot them during the day since they are extremely sensitive to sunlight. One of the effective ways to remove them from gardens is by cleaning all forms of decaying leaves or rotting wood since they could most likely be the habitat for these pests.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for, ‘Are earwigs harmful?’, then why not take a look at, ‘Are birds warm-blooded?’ or ‘Are gourds edible?’
Earwigs are insects with large antennas and a pair of pincers attached to their abdomen.
