It is said that earwigs crawl into peoples' ears and cause damage to the brain. This article lists some facts about earwigs that most people are unaware of.
People often believe the myth that earwigs creep inside the human ear, enter the brain, and damage it. However, it is now believed that this is an urban legend and although these creatures can crawl inside the ear, they do not burrow into the brain. This article presents some interesting facts about earwigs.
| Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Arthropoda Class : Insecta Order : Dermaptera |
Appearance
Sting
Location
» They are mostly found during the rainy season as the soil tends to get wet. They consume only plants, decomposed organic matter, and small insects, which is the main reason why they are found in gardens and tree holes. Finding an earwig in your ears may be a possibility, but do not panic as it does not eat up your brain. Try getting in touch with a doctor, and he/she will help you out.
Social Behavior
Getting Rid of Them
» Take a small container and fill it with either of these three combinations: (i) half-inch water and two tablespoons vegetable oil; (ii) half-inch water with 1 tablespoon each of vegetable oil and soy sauce; or (iii) half-inch vegetable oil with 2 tablespoons soy sauce (optional in this case). Cover the container with a lid and make a small hole in it for the insects to go through. They will be attracted either by the water or the soy sauce, and the oil will prevent them from coming back out. Discard this liquid and the dead insects outside.
» Keep damp newspaper rolls or cut up tubes of bamboo or the garden hose. Make sure that these tubes are damp. Leave them in the garden overnight. These will attract the insects. The next morning, dunk these tubes in hot, soapy water. However, do this quickly because otherwise, once you disturb the tubes, the insects will escape; remember that earwigs are really fast.
» One very effective method is to attract the natural predators of these insects to the garden―birds and frogs. Simply make a bird feeder or bird bath in your garden, and the avians that arrive will take care of the earwig menace for you. If you have a garden, chances are that there will be frogs present there.
Earwigs are not exactly violent insects, and they definitely do not eat the brain by reaching it through the ear. However, they are invasive, and they can bite if they feel threatened, which is a rare possibility. Follow the methods given above to get rid of an infestation, and also take the necessary precautions to ensure that they do not get into the house again.