Does an earwig have six legs?

Does an earwig have six legs?

An earwig is an insect with two antennae, six legs, three body parts, and a formidable set of pincers on the end of its abdomen. It ranges from 5 to 25 millimeters in size, depending on the species. Some earwigs have wings, and some do not.

What states do earwigs live in?

Earwigs are abundant and can be found throughout the Americas and Eurasia. The common earwig was introduced into North America in 1907 from Europe, but tends to be more common in the southern and southwestern parts of the United States.

What does it mean if you see a lot of earwigs?

You may see them inside more often when the temperature outside is too hot or when there is a lack of moisture. Once inside, they don’t cause many problems. They don’t bite, but they may pinch if they feel threatened.

Why did I find an earwig in my bed?

Earwigs enter homes by crawling inside through cracks, gaps and holes that lead inside the structure. Another way for earwigs to be brought in is if they are living under plants between a plant pot and the saucer. If people bring these in for the winter, earwigs will be brought inside.

Do earwigs actually go in your ear?

The earwig gets its skin-crawling name from long-standing myths claiming the insect can climb inside a person’s ear and either live there or feed on their brain. While any small insect is capable of climbing in your ear, this myth is unfounded. Earwigs don’t feed on the human brain or lay their eggs in your ear canal.

What should I do if I see an earwig?

An infestation is not easily tackled, as earwigs release a pheromone in their feces to attract other earwigs to the spot. Even if you kill existing earwigs, more could be on the way. To be truly sure you’ve eradicated your earwig infestation, contact a professional pest control service.

What do I do if I find an earwig?

If you have a large earwig infestation in the home, you will want to call a pest control specialist to treat your house and property to kill and reduce the earwig population.

What makes an earwig a ” pincher bug “?

The most obvious characteristic of earwigs is their forceps-like pincers protruding from the rear of the abdomen. Earwig cerci are made out of chitin and each pincer-end has two segments. The abdomen is very flexible, allowing the earwig to twist its body to grasp objects with its pincers.

What kind of bug has big pincers on its tail?

Earwigs look fierce, thanks to those huge “pincers” on the tail. But this bug is completely harmless. The pincers are used in mating, and unless it’s an absolutely huge earwig and you put your little finger right in the middle of them, they won’t get to you.

What kind of bug has a large cerci?

Earwigs are insects that fall under the order Dermaptera. Containing about 2,000 individual species spread over 12 families, earwigs are one of the smaller groupings of insects. They are known for their large cerci— forceps-like pincers protruding from their abdomens.

How many legs does an earwig bug have?

Along with their pincers, they have 6 legs, two long antennae that protrude from the top of their head and two pairs of wings, which often hide under a thick cover. Even though most species of earwigs have wings, they often do not use the ability to fly, and generally resort to their legs for getting from point A to point B.