In the wild, earwigs (also known as “pincher bugs”) live in moist cracks in the ground and feed on decaying vegetation. In your Northern VA home, they can be found in wet basements, potted plants, and bathrooms. They are just over an inch long, with long slender antennae and a long pincher at the rear. The body and wings are dark browns with light brown legs.
Earwigs may be mistaken for other more destructive bugs like termites, beetles, or cockroaches, or less-destructive insects like centipedes and millipedes, but they are a different bug – and identified by the pincers on their backside.
Although they are harmless to humans and will not actually crawl into your ears while you sleep (contrary to what their name implies), they can be invasive and quickly infest your home.
If a female earwig is in your home, it will lay 50-90 eggs, which will hatch in the springtime. If you are dealing with an earwig infestation it’s time to contact a Northern VA pest control service near you.
Northern VA pincher bug exterminators know that nobody wants earwigs in their home, and know just how to get rid of them.
Fox Pest Control is dedicated to helping you feel safe and earwig-free in your home.
Get a free inspection and same-day* service by calling (703) 454-8200 or by emailing us. Results come with our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
On This Page: Signs of an Infestation, Things to know about Earwigs in Northern VA, Prevention Tips, How Do I Get Rid of Earwigs?, Earwig Control FAQ
You might already know for sure that you have an earwig problem. But here are a couple of the most common signs of an earwig infestation in Northern VA.
The only sign of an earwig infestation is to actually see them crawling around. These insects require moisture in order to survive. In Northern VA, earwigs are most commonly found in vegetable gardens… not as commonly inside houses. This means they’re most likely brought inside by hitching a ride on clothing, harvested vegetables, dirt from a boot, or even in sleeping bags or tents after a camping trip.
Call (703) 454-8200 for a free inspection. If you call before 2:00 pm, we can often come that day!
Remote locations & other conditions may require next-day service.
A certified technician will inspect your property & provide customized pest control treatment based on the inspection results.
Each service provides a detailed report & helpful tips to keep pests away. We return regularly throughout the year, increasing protection with every visit.
If you see pest activity between your regularly scheduled services, we will return free of charge!
Fox Pest Control provides earwig control services in Northern VA and the surrounding areas, including:
If you see one earwig in your house, it's likely there are more to follow.
Extreme hot or cold weather drives them inside.
They come in through the smallest of cracks, and can multiply very quickly.
Earwigs hide in places that give them easy access to food and water, like your kitchen or bathroom.
You'll most likely see earwigs in the summer months, which is typically when they sneak indoors.
Luckily earwigs do not cause structural damage.
However, they do eat house plants and plants in the yard and garden.
If you try to remove earwigs yourself, watch out.
If disturbed, they produce a noticeably foul odor.
When you see an earwig, call Fox Pest Control right away.
We will send a certified and licensed service pro that same day to give you a free inspection.
We'll also create a treatment plan tailored specifically to eliminate your earwig problem.
This will not only protect your home, but your yard too.
At Fox Pest Control, we pride ourselves in our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
That means if you see any additional pests activity between treatments,
just give us a call and we'll come back for free.
Fox Pest Control. No Bugs. Simply Better.
Although they prefer to stay outside your Northern VA home, earwigs occasionally find their way inside. If you have lots of earwigs hanging around your home and garden in Northern VA, it’s time to contact Fox Pest Control so you can spend your time focused on what matters most and leave the earwig removal to us.
Overall, earwigs won’t cause much damage in the garden, especially when compared to more serious garden pests like Japanese beetles and aphids.
However, even in Northern VA, earwigs can become a minor problem for gardens by invading and eating crops. For example, they can crawl inside corn husks and eat the sweet kernels inside. That’s enough of that, contact Fox Pest Control and say goodbye to your earwig infestation!
If an earwig is handled or feels threatened, it may use those pincers against you.
Luckily, a bite from an earwig’s pincers isn’t venomous or deadly, and usually does not break your skin.
Earwigs can eat garden and field crops around Northern VA, including tomatoes, corn, lettuce, strawberries, and other fruits and vegetables, especially during the early growing stages when the plants are most tender. They aren’t as big a problem as garden pests like Japanese beetles and aphids. At Fox Pest Control we can help you get rid of earwigs in Northern VA, before they get their start!
The pincers on male earwigs are curved while they’re straight in females.
No, earwigs aren’t likely to crawl on your body, especially not your ears or on your head. Your ears don’t provide enough moisture for them to survive.
Earwigs got their name from a myth that they would crawl into your ears to lay eggs. Your ear isn’t very tempting for them because they wouldn’t be able to survive inside it. So, you don’t have to worry that an earwig will crawl into your ear, much less lay eggs there.
Those pincers, also called “cerci,” are intimidating for a reason. Earwigs use them during mating, to catch prey items, and for self-defense.
Flor Thomas
I've had nothing but great service provided by this company. I've had a few different companies drop by and try to sell me on their products and services but this company has a different, more friendly and professional approach I could work with. The prices and deals offered were also too good to pass up and the communication from purchase to first visit has been outstanding.
Rhonda Hendricks
Tech was extremely kind, personable, and helpful. Totally positive experience!
To ensure our customer's safety, we insist on a thorough screening process for all Fox Pest Control Technicians. They also complete extensive training in the classroom and on the job with an experienced mentor before servicing alone.
See photos of our team by visiting the Meet Our Team page for your branch.
If a Fox Pest Control customer has an infestation of covered pests in their Northern VA home or business between regularly scheduled Home Protection Plan treatments, we will come back and perform targeted treatments to get rid of the pest at no charge. If Fox Pest Control cannot resolve the problem after three such targeted treatments, we will cheerfully refund the customer’s last monthly subscription fee, as long as all other terms of the agreement have been met.
And if you see any pest activity between your regularly scheduled treatments, simply give our Northern VA office a call; we'll come back at no additional charge.
*Call us today before 2 p.m. (Monday-Friday) for a same day, zero-obligation inspection and estimate or to provide Northern VA pest control & extermination services near you.