Do earwigs eat ants? This is a question that I get asked a lot and it’s one that I’m always happy to answer.
First of all let’s start with what an earwig is. An earwig is a small nocturnal insect that is characterized by its pincers or forceps on its back end. These pincers are used for defense and for catching prey.
Now that we know a little bit about earwigs let’s answer the question at hand – do they eat ants?
The answer is yes earwigs do eat ants. In fact they are one of the few predators of ants. They will use their pincers to catch and kill ants and then they will eat them.
Earwigs are not the only insects that eat ants. There are a few other types of insects that are known to eat ants including some beetles and wasps.
So there you have it. Earwigs do eat ants. If you have an ant problem you might want to consider using earwigs as a natural method of control.
What kind of food do earwigs eat?
Earwigs are omnivorous meaning that they will eat both plants and animals.
However ants make up a large part of their diet.
How do earwigs eat ants?
Earwigs have pincers at the end of their abdomens which they use to grab onto their prey.
They will then bite into the ant and eat it.
Do earwigs eat live ants?
Yes earwigs will eat both live and dead ants.
Where do earwigs find ants to eat?
Earwigs will find ants anywhere they can.
This can be in the wild in your garden or even in your home.
Do earwigs eat anything else besides ants?
Yes as mentioned before earwigs are omnivorous.
This means that they will eat both plants and animals.
Some examples of other things that earwigs eat are: beetles caterpillars and flies.
Do earwigs only eat insects?
No earwigs will also eat other things such as fruits vegetables and even dead animals.
Do all earwigs eat ants?
No not all earwigs eat ants.
Some earwigs are actually predators of ants and will eat them.
How many ants can an earwig eat in one day?
An earwig can eat up to 50 ants in one day.
Do earwigs have any natural predators?
Yes earwigs have many natural predators.
Some examples are: birds bats lizards and frogs.
Do earwigs pose a threat to humans?
Earwigs are not a threat to humans.
They will not bite or sting you and are not known to carry any diseases.
Can earwigs cause damage to your home?
While earwigs are not a threat to humans they can cause damage to your home.
This is because they will eat things like fruits vegetables and flowers.
Can earwigs cause damage to crops?
Yes earwigs can damage crops.
This is because they will eat the leaves stems and even the roots of the plants.
How can you get rid of earwigs?
If you want to get rid of earwigs there are many things you can do.
Some examples are: using traps pesticides and even diatomaceous earth.
Are earwigs harmful to pets?
No earwigs are not harmful to pets.
However if your pet eats an earwig it may experience vomiting diarrhea and even seizures.
What happens if an earwig gets into your ear?
If an earwig gets into your ear it will not cause any harm.
Earwigs do not bite or sting and they are not known to carry any diseases.
