Earwigs have the two appendages protruding from the abdomen, whereas the silverfish have three straight appendages protruding. These appendages are softer and are hairlike. Earwigs have a hard body of chitin, whereas the silverfish have an additional coating of scales.
Although they can trigger allergies in some people, they do not bite or spread disease. Silverfish have a well-earned reputation for causing significant damage to buildings and possessions, so it is important to get a silverfish infestation under control quickly to minimize the damage that they cause.
May Cause Damage to Personal Items
What are the signs of a silverfish infestation? Most often, homeowners detect silverfish when they find one on the floor or in a sink or bathtub. Their feeding damage also can indicate their presence, along with their tiny pepperlike feces.
Earwigs can use their forceps to grasp onto a finger if agitated, but earwigs do not sting nor are they dangerous. They have no venom, so earwigs are not poisonous. Insects such as mosquitoes or bed bugs can injure people by biting.
The Final Word on Silverfish and Earwigs
If they are seen, a few sprays of Dr. Killigan's Six Feet Under will rid their presence. We recommend to spray these areas frequently. The clove and cottonseed oil aroma deter them from staying around.
Silverfish dislike the smell of cedar, so one good natural preventive method is to make a spray using cedarwood essential oil (10 drops to 4 ounces of water, shake gently before each use). Spray in damp corners and/or in closets and near bookshelves. You can also spray down your rugs and upholstery.
Food-grade diatomaceous earth can be sprinkled in the garden, along baseboards, or anywhere else earwigs walk across, but be aware that this substance loses its effectiveness if it gets wet. Boric acid powder can be blown into cracks and crevices to kill earwigs, but keep it away from children and pets.
Apply boric acid to infested cracks
He recommends carefully applying the acid to any cracks where you notice pest activity. 'Earwigs will hide in cracks and crevices where there is high moisture. Often, this can be in kitchen and bathroom areas or in gaps at the baseboards,' he adds.
Earwig nests are a short tunnel in the soil, usually next to a rock or other object. The female earwig lays her eggs and then spends all her time with them to prevent mold from killing them. She eats the mold off of her eggs to keep them clean.
Earwigs are generally harmless bugs with a bad reputation. Despite what you may have heard, they are not known to climb into your ears, although there have been cases of earwigs being found in the ear.
Although they prefer places like bathrooms and closets, it is possible to find silverfish bugs in beds. These insects are about half an inch in length with silver teardrop-shaped bodies and long antennae. While they're more annoying than harmful, these pests can damage bedding.
Vacuum and/or steam clean fabric furniture and carpets to kill Silverfish and to reduce dirt and grime build-up. Ensure any food crumbs, dirt, dust, dead insects and bird nests have been removed and cleaned as soon as they have been noticed. Avoid clutter, especially storing or discarding unutilised paper items.
Given that Silverfish live where conditions are wet and humid, their presence could be a sign that there is a water issue in your house – it could be a leaky pipe, or water coming from outside of your home. You might also discover damp or rotting wood in areas where you find Silverfish.
Vacuuming helps remove these pests as well as eggs they may have laid. Be sure to empty the vacuum outside to help prevent insects from entering into your home," Kauffman said. Check your humidity levels: Looking for another natural way to kill silverfish? Try drying out your home with a dehumidifier.
Silverfish develop through a process known as gradual metamorphosis. This means that unlike most insects who have four life stages (complete metamorphosis), silverfish only have three: egg, nymph, and adult.
Rubbing alcohol and water: Mix some together in a spray bottle. Spritz directly on earwigs to kill them on contact. Olive oil and soy sauce: Cook up a trap with these two ingredients by mixing oil and soy sauce in a container and leaving it in a spot where you last saw earwigs.
As far as earwigs are concerned, the trap that I've found to work the best is simply to get a saucer or shallow dish, put a layer of cheap vegetable oil in and a drizzle of soy sauce. They'll wipe themselves out by the hundreds.
Foul smell: When earwigs are crushed, they secrete a yellow-brown substance that gives off a very foul odor. Live bugs: The presence of live bugs, either inside your home or near outdoor lights (especially at night) indicates there may be a congregation of earwigs nearby.
Specific essential oils have scents that earwigs dislike. Some of the best scents to keep earwigs away include peppermint, eucalyptus, cinnamon and basil.
There will also probably be a scattering of earwig excrement, which will be small, black pellets. Damage will often occur after rainy weather, which forces earwigs to seek dry shelter and climb up into plants and leaves.
To make an earwig trap, mix equal parts soy sauce and vegetable oil and put it in a container. Earwigs are attracted to the smell of soy sauce and will enter the trap, but won't be able to get out because of the oil.