Trusted extermination services to keep your home, business, and customers pest-free
Earwigs look alarming — those rear pincers and the old ear myth make people assume the worst — but they are harmless nuisance invaders that show up because your space is damp. New York Exterminating identifies them correctly, clears the infestation, and fixes the moisture and harborage drawing them in. The work is led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) licensed in structural pest control, so you get facts instead of folklore.
Let us put the worry to rest. Earwigs do not enter ears, do not bite or sting in any meaningful way, and have zero interest in people — the name is centuries-old folklore. The pincers are weak and used for defense and handling prey; the worst a large one can do is a harmless little pinch if you grab it. They are nocturnal scavengers of decaying plant matter and mold. So this is a nuisance to clear, not a threat to fear.
The ID matters because the fix differs. Earwigs are dark reddish-brown, elongated, and unmistakable for the forceps-like pincers at the rear. Silverfish are silvery-gray, teardrop-shaped, and have three tail bristles but no pincers. Small cockroaches are oval, very fast, flee light, and have no rear pincers. If the insect has pincers at the back end, it is an earwig — and we will confirm from a photo at no charge so you are sure.
Earwigs are moisture pests, and they push indoors during weather extremes and as nights cool in late summer and fall. They enter through door sweeps, foundation cracks, and ground-level gaps, then cluster in the damp spots NYC buildings offer — basements, bathrooms, under sinks, and ground-floor and garden-level rooms. Outside, mulch beds, leaf litter, and damp debris piled against the foundation create the staging ground right next to your entry points. That is why control has to address the dampness, not just the bugs you see.
1. Identify. We confirm earwig (versus silverfish or roach) so the treatment fits.
2. Treat harborage. We treat the damp interior harborage and the exterior perimeter where they stage.
3. Moisture & landscape. We address the dampness indoors and the mulch, leaf litter, and debris against the foundation feeding them.
4. Exclusion. We seal the door gaps and foundation cracks they use to get in.
Related services: Cricket Control, Occasional Invader Control, and Pest-Proofing & Exclusion.
Yes — we identify the insect, find the moisture and entry points, and quote before any work.
Usually yes — the rear pincers make earwigs easy to confirm from a clear photo.
Yes — the exterior harborage and damp debris against the foundation are central to keeping them out.
No — this is an old myth with no basis. Earwigs do not seek out ears, do not burrow into your brain, and have no interest in people. They are nocturnal scavengers that feed on decaying plant matter, mold, and other small insects. The name is folklore, not behavior.
Not really. The pincers (called cerci) look intimidating but are weak; a large earwig can deliver a harmless little pinch if you pick it up, and that is the extent of it. Earwigs do not sting, are not venomous, and pose no medical threat to people or pets. They are a nuisance invader, nothing more.
The pincers are the giveaway. Earwigs are dark reddish-brown, elongated, and have those distinctive forceps-like pincers at the rear. Silverfish are silvery-gray, teardrop-shaped, wingless, and have three tail bristles but no pincers. Small cockroaches are oval, fast, and flee light without any rear pincers. If it has pincers at the back end, it is an earwig. Send a photo and we will confirm free.
Moisture, almost always. Earwigs need damp harborage and come indoors when it is too dry or too wet outside, or as nights cool in late summer and fall. They ride in through door gaps and foundation cracks, and they cluster where it is damp inside — basements, bathrooms, under sinks, and ground-floor rooms. Mulch, leaf litter, and damp debris against the foundation stage them right next to the entry points.
By drying out their harborage and sealing them out, not just spraying indoors. We treat the interior harborage and the exterior perimeter where they stage, then address the moisture and the mulch, leaf litter, and debris against the foundation that feed them. Reducing the dampness is what keeps them from returning.
They do not damage structures, but in the garden they can chew ragged holes in seedlings, soft fruit, and flower petals, which frustrates gardeners. Indoors they are purely a nuisance. The main concern is the numbers that can appear during a damp stretch, and the way they keep coming back until the moisture is corrected.
New York Exterminating, Inc.
1115 E 13th St, Brooklyn, NY 11230
ACE-Certified · Licensed in Structural & Food-Establishment Pest Control · Serving all five boroughs
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Our expertise goes beyond simple extermination. Backed by certified specialists and proven methods, we combine science, precision, and care to deliver pest solutions that last. Every treatment is designed with your safety, comfort, and environment in mind.
Many of our clients have remained with us since 2010, demonstrating strong trust and long-term satisfaction.
Licensed by NYSDEC – Reg. #15140
Serving property managers, senior facilities, shelters, affordable-housing programs, and businesses across NYC since 2010 — many long-term clients trust our work.
Botanical/organic options, German-cockroach elimination and rodent-exclusion programs, full bilingual support (EN/ES), plus a client portal with reports, photos, and chemical logs for total transparency.
NYSDEC Registered — Reg. #15140 — with fully licensed technicians (Jorge Bedoya, Tomas Cusati, Jason Mendoza). We follow all regulations for safe, legal treatments.
Led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (Jorge Bedoya) and technicians trained in urban entomology, we use IPM and proven methods for lasting results.
From first inspection to final follow-up, our science-based process ensures every pest problem is solved with precision, safety, and lasting protection
Find quick answers to common questions about our services, safety practices, and customer support
Yes. We use eco-friendly and low-toxicity treatments designed to protect your family, pets, and the environment.
Yes. We offer bilingual services in English and Spanish to ensure clear communication and support for all our clients across New York City.
We proudly serve all five boroughs of New York City — Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island — as well as surrounding areas.
You can access all your service reports, invoices, and treatment details through our secure online Client Portal. Simply log in anytime to view records, photos, and chemical logs for full transparenc
We specialize in removing rodents, insects, raccoons, and other common pests, providing thorough inspections and effective solutions to keep your home or business pest-free.
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Providing reliable pest control solutions for homes, businesses, and institutions across the NYC metro area
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