There are a few insects no one wants to deal with in their homes, and two good examples that often look similar are ants and earwigs. And while these insects may have somewhat similar appearances in certain cases, their behaviors can vary pretty significantly, so knowing the differences is important.
At Logan Extermination, we’re proud to offer a number of pest control services for both inside and outside your home, including prevention of a number of insect risks. We’ve dealt with both ants and earwigs plenty in the past, and we’ll help you both identify the causes of their presence and work toward eliminating them. Here’s a brief primer on what causes both these insects to show up in your home, plus what you can do to prevent them.
Ants in the Home
Ants come in several varieties, and may be in your home for a few different reasons:
- Food is left out: Kitchen and dining room areas tend to feature a lot of food on the floor, which is like an open invitation for ant infestations. Be sure to not leave anything out overnight or when you go on vacation; make sure all food containers are sealed tightly before storing them in your cabinets and clean up any crumbs and spills immediately throughout your house.
- Overflowing garbage containers: Ants are attracted to food sources, but they’re also natural recyclers. If you have an overfull garbage container that doesn’t get emptied frequently enough, the ants will look for other places to take their leftovers once it starts overflowing. Storing your trash in sealed containers and taking out the trash regularly can go a long way toward preventing ant infestations.
- Greasy surfaces: Ants, like many other insects, love the taste of grease. This is why you should always wipe down counters and stovetops after cooking to eliminate any traces of oil or sauces that may have spilled. Ants are also attracted to pet hair, skin cells, dust bunnies, etc., so making sure your house is as clean as possible is a good goal.
- Standing moisture: Finally, some ants will look for wet, damp areas in your home. This can include basements and low-access floors where water leaks or sprinklers may be prone to go unnoticed, basement walls that are exposed to constant moisture, leaky pipes and water heaters, leaking air conditioners and more.
Earwigs in the Home
Earwigs, on the other hand, refer to nocturnal insects that, curiously enough, actually don’t prefer to be in your home — they thrive in moist environments, and are actually more common in outdoor areas like porches, under bushes or in flowerpots.
However, earwigs are also attracted to bright lights — usually outdoor lights, but sometimes indoor lights as well. There are also cases where they can be carried into the home from the outside, then begin replicating once inside. There may also be certain temperature conditions where they prefer to move inside.
As such, you can take a few basic steps to prevent earwigs entering:
- Ensure bright indoor lights aren’t visible from outside, or that outdoor lights are off after dark.
- Avoid leaving gardens and flowerpots near entry points into your home — try to keep them at least 15-20 feet away.
- Investing in some preventative treatments for the exterior of your home is also a good idea; this can include perimeter sprays, granules around door frames and railings and anything else that will discourage earwigs from setting up shop near your home’s exterior.
For more on the causes of ants or earwigs in your home and how to prevent them, or to learn about any of our pest control services, speak to the staff at Logan Extermination today.
