This time of year, Adelaide home owners are noticing a larger amount of pincer wielding earwigs. Perhaps you’re out in the garden pulling the weeds for the umpteenth time, or you’re tending to tender seedlings, or perhaps you’re just wandering the house and minding your own business. There it is. Scuttling out of a dark corner, little claw tail menacing. So what do you need to know about earwigs in and around Adelaide?

​Australia offers a fantastic climate for earwigs to grow and thrive. There are only about 85 species of earwigs in Australia. As the weather warms, the earwigs come out and we tend to get worried.
 
Earwigs are not territorial, meaning they can share nests which is why they can quickly rise in numbers. 
 
You can find earwigs inside your home in dark, damp, and cluttered places. Having a source of food would be a bonus. The basement or the kitchen would be the most likely interior habitat for these nasty creatures.
 
Since earwigs love humidity and dampness, you will also find them wherever there’s rotten wood or leaf litter. Perfectly, warm, moist, and best of all – dark. Combine that with their favourite foods of maggots, worms, aphids and other insects and the garden is their favourite hangout. 

​Other than tidying up in the garden, the best way to control earwigs is at their nests. A licensed pest controller, like Michael, will find and treat the nest and we also recommend a broader pest control treatment to keep them out of your home.
 
Book a time now that suits you. 

Inch ants are native to Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges. They belong to the and subfamily of MYRMECIINAE along with Hopper/Jumping Jack/Jack-jumper Ants. Both of these ants bite and have been responsible for a number of reported deaths due to allergies. (So be warned)
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Inch ants are one of the oldest ant groups and have very wasp-like bodies. They don’t lay down scent trails or travel in lines. They have small colonies, with a few hundred or at most a few thousand ants. If you’re unsure if you have an inch ant around your home, use this helpful guide from the South Australian Government to help you identify the ant.

Inch Ants are found right across Australia and prefer natural, dry woodland habitats, grasslands and rural areas. Its nest is usually underground and often have hidden or small entrances. They will generally attack anyone that disturbs their nest.
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While inch ant fossils have been found around the globe and dating back 50 million years, they are now only found in Australia. 

• Educate children and others about the risks of Inch Ants and show them what the ants and their nests looks like compared to other ants.
• Wear heavy clothing such as boots and gloves when gardening.
• Some people prefer to remove nests to reduce the risk of stings. Seek professional advice on how to remove the nests/kills the ants if necessary.

As with any ant problem, they’re best treated by a licensed and insured professional. Any solutions we use are required to abide my government regulations and we are trained in their safe handling and use. Contact MD Pest Control to discuss your needs be it for inch ants, regular ants or any other pest or insect.