earwigs & silverfish in North Texas

While they don’t bite, sting, or spread disease, silverfish and earwigs are still pests you don’t want inside your home. These creepy-crawly insects thrive in damp, dark environments, damaging belongings and creating an unwelcome nuisance.

Pure Grit Pest Control provides professional silverfish and earwig treatments that eliminate infestations and prevent them from coming back.

A close-up of an earwig on a tree branch with a blurred green background.

  • Appearance: Brown or reddish insects with pincers (cerci) on their tail ends. Often ½ to 1 inch long.

    Risks: While earwigs look intimidating, they don’t bite or spread disease. They can pinch if handled but are mostly a nuisance pest.

    Where Found: Damp areas like bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and under mulch or leaf litter outside.

A close-up of an earwig with long antennae and slender legs on a white background.

  • Appearance: Small, silvery-gray insects with flat bodies and three tail-like bristles. They move in a quick, fish-like wriggle.

    Risks: Feed on paper, books, clothing, and pantry items high in starch. Can cause damage to important belongings and contaminate food.

    Where Found: Bathrooms, basements, attics, and kitchens—anywhere dark and humid.

Why Earwigs and silverfish are a problem

  • Silverfish: Cause damage to books, clothing, wallpaper, and food packaging.

  • Earwigs: Unsightly indoors and alarming due to their appearance, though mostly harmless.

  • Shared Habits: Both pests thrive in dark, humid areas, making bathrooms, kitchens, and basements prime targets.

Signs of an infestation

  • Seeing silverfish dart across floors, bathtubs, or walls.

  • Damage to books, paper, cardboard, or fabric (silverfish).

  • Earwigs crawling indoors, especially at night.

  • Frequent sightings in damp, dark rooms.

Close-up of a silverfish with a dark, segmented body, antennae, and fine hairs, on a light background.

Why earwigs and silverfish are common in north texas

The warm, humid climate of North Texas creates perfect conditions for silverfish and earwigs. Leaky pipes, poor ventilation, and heavy rainfall can increase indoor moisture levels, attracting these pests inside.

Pure Grit Pest Control’s Approach

Our general pest services effectively target silverfish and earwigs by addressing both the pests and the conditions that attract them:

  1. Inspect – Locate harborage areas, entry points, and moisture issues.

  2. Treat – Apply safe, targeted treatments in cracks, crevices, and moisture-prone areas indoors and outdoors.

  3. Sweep & Dust – As part of general pest service, technicians sweep webs and apply pesticide dust around windows, eaves, and entry points, which also discourages crawling pests like silverfish and earwigs.

  4. Protect – Ongoing quarterly pest services keep populations under control year-round.

Close-up of a silverfish on a white wall.

Prevention Tips

Don’t let silverfish ruin your belongings or earwigs creep you out. Whether you’re dealing with silverfish in your bathroom or earwigs in your basement, Pure Grit Pest Control has the solution.

👉 Call us today for professional silverfish and earwig control in North Texas.

  • Reduce moisture by fixing leaks and improving ventilation.

  • Use dehumidifiers in basements, attics, or bathrooms.

  • Store books, paper, and clothing in dry areas.

  • Keep mulch, leaves, and woodpiles away from the home’s foundation.

FAQs

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FAQs 〰️

  • No. That’s a myth. Earwigs may look scary, but they don’t crawl into ears. They’re more of a nuisance than a danger.

  • Signs include holes in books, paper, or fabric, along with sightings of the fast-moving, silvery insects in bathrooms or kitchens.

  • Professional treatments quickly reduce activity, but ongoing pest control is the best way to prevent them from coming back.