Don't "wig out" about the Earwig invasion
They look freaky and their name does not help, but earwigs appear more fearsome than they are.
Earwigs are sometimes called “Pincher Bugs” or “Forky tails” due to their forceps or “pinchers.”
They look like mutated ants with pinchers on their backends - something nightmares try to hide from. Some Wichitans have said their homes have been invaded while others are unaware the critters exist.
They have been found hiding in various nooks and crannies, but recently they've been just about everywhere.
What are they? Are they dangerous?
Do they bite? Are they poisonous? Are they from another planet?
According to local bug experts, No.
David Brown, owner of Dave’s Bug Pro said they’ve gotten more calls than normal this year about Earwigs.
“They are a nuisance,” Brown said, “but they are harmless.”
Brown said if the creatures were to pinch an infant, it would hurt, but generally they do not attack people. They are insects with antennae, six legs, three body parts, and a formidable set of forceps, or pincers.
According to Wikipedia, Earwigs are mostly nocturnal scavengers that occupy small crevices. They are preyed upon by birds. They eat plants, ripe fruit, animal materials, and actively hunt Arthropods (insects, spiders).
Officials at the Wichita Falls Wichita County Health Department said they are aware of the plethora of earwigs this season.
General Environmental Health Administrator Samantha Blair said more than likely, the reason we are seeing more of them is because we had an actual Spring this year, which allowed them to hatch.
A mix of dishwashing soap and water sprayed in the areas where Earwigs like to hang out will keep them away.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Don't "wig out" about the Earwigs
