Earwig Control Services In Alexandria VA
Miche Pest Control is a family owned and operated pest control company that provides residential and commercial earwig control services for homes and businesses in Alexandria VA and the surrounding areas. Our expert earwig exterminators get rid of earwig infestations fast, and work preventatively to keep the earwigs from coming back after they've been eliminated. Miche Pest Control has a 4.9 star rating and over 1,000 reviews online - call today or book online!
Earwigs In Alexandria VA
Earwigs make up the insect order Dermaptera. With about 2,000 species in 12 families, they are one of the smaller insect orders. Earwigs have characteristic cerci, a pair of forcep-like pincers on their abdomen, and membranous wings folded underneath short, rarely used forewings, hence the scientific order name, "skin wings". Some groups are tiny parasites on mammals and lack the typical pincers. Earwigs are found on all continents except Antarctica.
Earwigs are mostly nocturnal and in Alexandria VA, will often hide in small, moist crevices during the day, and are active at night, feeding on a wide variety of insects and plants. Damage to foliage, flowers, and various crops is commonly blamed on earwigs, especially the common earwig Forficula auricularia.
Earwigs have five molts in the year before they become adults. Many earwig species display maternal care, which is uncommon among insects. Female earwigs may care for their eggs, and even after they have hatched as nymphs will continue to watch over offspring until their second molt. As the nymphs molt, sexual dimorphism such as differences in pincer shapes begins to show.
Pincher Bugs in Alexandria VA
Often referred to as the “Pincher Bug“, the earwig is a pest you won’t soon forget nor have trouble identifying when you see one. With intimidating pincers, long antennas, and a predictable lifestyle, you can find these creepy crawlers in and around your home or business in Alexandria VA whenever their environment suits them. Knowing who and what they are makes encountering an earwig a harmless circumstance, but to get rid of them from your home or business, contact us today!
Earwig - Bug, Or Something Else?
Earwigs are a nocturnal scavenger insect that spends it time sleeping during the day and hunting and eating at night. They are a rather anti-social bug, not belonging to any queen or colony, thus making earwig infestations a rare occurrence. Their lives are spent continuously searching for hospitable environments while hunting and eating in its active time. Earwigs do have pincers that they use to hunt prey but pose no natural threat to people. While earwigs are definitely insects, they are not technically a bug.
Earwigs In Your House In Alexandria VA?
If you have earwigs entering your home or business in Alexandria VA it’s usually because their outdoor environmental conditions have changed, and are now too dry or too wet or too hot, you may be attracting them with outside lighting, and your exterior walls have gaps or openings that accidentally let them inside. Earwigs are active at night and are attracted to bright outdoor lights, so they often enter homes and businesses around doors and windows, or foundation openings. Check that screens are tight, that garage doors have good seals, and that outside doors have weather stripping and thresholds. Because earwigs have flattened bodies, it doesn’t take much of a gap to allow them inside. Earwigs sometimes end up inside when they are carried in on items where they have been hiding such as plants, newspapers, or firewood.
How To Get Rid Of Earwigs In Alexandria VA
- Repair holes in window screens.
- Seal cracks and gaps around your doors, foundation and vents.
- Repair leaks.
- Remove piles of wood, leaves and rocks.
- Keep mulch and vegetation at least six to 12 inches away from your house.
- Trim trees and bushes to eliminate heavy shade and dampness around the yard.
- Use a dehumidifier to keep excess moisture out of your basement.
- Keep drains and gutters clear.
- Need more help? Call an exterminator.
Earwigs In Ears
Despite their name, earwigs do not crawl into and infest people’s ear. They certainly don’t crawl through the ear and lay eggs in the brain, as some of the particularly tall tales suggest. Earwigs like dark, warm, humid places, so it’s technically possible that they may be attracted to a sleeping person’s ear. This would be an extremely unlikely occurrence, however, and the bug wouldn’t stay there long, lay eggs, or burrow. Especially in Alexandria VA, people shouldn’t worry about earwigs burrowing into their ears.
Alexandria VA
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Located along the western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately 7 miles south of downtown Washington DC.
Like the rest of Northern Virginia, as well as Central Maryland, modern Alexandria has been influenced by its proximity to the U.S. Capitol. It is largely populated by professionals working in the federal civil service, in the U.S. military, or for one of the many private companies which contract to provide services to the federal government. One of Alexandria's largest employers is the U.S. Department of Defense. Another is the Institute for Defense Analyses. In 2005, the United States Patent and Trademark Office moved to Alexandria, and in 2017, so did the headquarters of the National Science Foundation.
The historic center of Alexandria is known as Old Town. With its concentration of boutiques, restaurants, antique shops and theaters, it is a major draw for all who live in Alexandria as well for visitors. Like Old Town, many Alexandria neighborhoods are compact and walkable. It is the 7th largest and highest-income independent city in Virginia.
A large portion of adjacent Fairfax County, mostly south but also west of the city, has Alexandria mailing addresses. However, this area is under the jurisdiction of Fairfax County's government and separate from the independent city. The city is therefore sometimes referred to as the "City of Alexandria" to avoid confusion. Additionally, neighboring Arlington County was formerly named "Alexandria County" before it was renamed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1920 to reduce confusion with the city.
Nearby Cities:
Arlington VA (6 miles), Washington DC (7 miles), Springfield VA (8 miles), Falls Church VA (9 miles), Hyattsville MD (12 miles), Bethesda MD (13 miles), Silver Spring MD (13 miles), Fairfax VA (14 miles), Woodbridge VA (15 miles), Upper Marlboro MD (16 miles), Bowie MD (20 miles), Rockville MD (20 miles), Herndon VA (22 miles), Laurel MD (23 miles), Manassas VA (23 miles), Gaithersburg MD (25 miles), Ashburn VA (29 miles), Columbia MD (29 miles), Annapolis MD (32 miles), Ellicott City MD (35 miles), Leesburg VA (35 miles), Baltimore MD (41 miles), Fredericksburg VA (41 miles), Frederick MD (46 miles)
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