Welcome to what seems like earwig city! Whew, I don't have to tell you that we're being invaded by millions of earwig bugs, also commonly call pincher bugs because of the two pincers emanating from their tail. Historically these pesky fellas are common to the Phoenix area but this is the absolute worst your ole bug guy has seen them in 16 years of pest control. In the unlikely event you haven't seen an earwig I've posted this image for your viewing pleasure. 

Earwigs Are Teeming: This condition was caused by the unexpected environmental change from cooler weather and early rains in May through early June to the dramatic increase in temperature thereafter. The sudden heat and excess of moisture caused the earwigs to seek cooler, dryer surroundings and in so doing they find their way into your home. I know you're not concerned with the 'why', but rather the 'how' in getting rid of these ugly annoying pests, so let's get to it now.

They're Harmless: Since our area is teeming with earwigs I want to briefly provide some information on them that might assuage some of your concerns. Not that this is any solace, but they're are not harmful to humans and the menacing pincers are used for combating other bugs. Earwigs don't cause damage to household items, they're just nuisance pests. If you find them in your home take out the trusty vacuum cleaner and suck them up and away.

Earwigs are nocturnal, actively feeding on insects and a variety of plants at night.

Entering Your Home: Structures are usually entered through baseboards, cracks and crevices by accident while seeking shelter. This is why most people aren't aware that their home is infested with earwigs until the pesky rascals are seen scampering inside, particularly in rooms with sinks, e.g., bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen, but they can turn up anywhere in the home. Once inside the home they will breed but unlike most insects their babies don't go through a larva stage: a newborn earwig looks pretty much like an adult earwig, only smaller.

What You Can Do: Some easy self-help steps to take in combating earwigs:

• Make sure all ground level windows and doors fit tightly when closed
• Use weather stripping
• Seal cracks and crevices in your home's foundation as well as openings in other structural places
• Move landscape timbers, logs, decorative stones, and firewood piles away from the foundation
• Create a zone next to the foundation that is free of mulch, dead leaves, and other organic material
• Examine gutters and downspouts to make sure they drain away from the foundation
• Set irrigation systems so that they water in the morning and allow the landscape to dry during the day

More To Come: Don't want to conclude on a sour note but I'd be remiss by failing to advise you that the upcoming Monsoons will only exacerbate the earwig situation. As with the changing conditions in early summer I previously mentioned, the Monsoons will bring heavy rains that will cause the earwigs to seek shelter in dryer conditions.