# Bugs in ears? The horror! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 6, 2012, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890 "2012-10-06T11:00:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/21 "2012-10-07T23:10:37Z")
I got a tiny gnat-thing in my ear once. I was leaving my building on my way to a friend’s house about 3 blocks away. I didn’t see the point in going back up to my apartment to try and get it out on my own, so made the walk over (shaking my head and sticking my pinkie in my ear periodically, blending right in with the crazies) and told him what happened when I got there. I asked for a q-tip, went to the bathroom mirror and fished around for a minute, with about 5 other people watching. It was so tiny (and loud!) I was able to smush it and pull it out on the q-tip. At least there were lots of people to help if it needed to be irrigated. Cleaned my ear a little with another q-tip and peroxide, and the party continued incident free. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/22 "2012-10-07T23:13:08Z")
> [@laina\_f](#): > > **bot3** , I think the doctor was messing with you. Why not just flush the ear out with the beer? > > A while back one of those medical mystery shows told the story of a guy who was brought into the emergency room, basically comatose but occasionally making an ungodly kind of moaning scream. During the examination, a doctor noticed a huge roach poking its antenna out of the guy’s ear; it was removed with tweezers, and the guy slowly got back to normal. Turns out that his worst fears included (1) roaches (2) getting a bug in his ear. When his nightmare became real, he was so terrified that his brain tried to block the experience. Special class of horror, right here. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/23 "2012-10-08T02:13:17Z")
We see these in the ER on a regular, though not necessarily frequent basis. One doc I know tells the story of looking in with the otoscope and seeing 8 pairs of eyes looking back at him, he decided to kill it with some lidocaine, but that just cause the spider to come flying out, problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/24 "2012-10-08T02:27:23Z")
> [@laina\_f](#): > > **bot3** , I think the doctor was messing with you. Why not just flush the ear out with the beer?. Much easier to aim a tiny stream of beer when it’s been, uh, processed into pee. At least for a man. Also: waste not, want not! ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/25 "2012-10-08T02:57:48Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > We see these in the ER on a regular, though not necessarily frequent basis. One doc I know tells the story of looking in with the otoscope and seeing 8 pairs of eyes looking back at him, he decided to kill it with some lidocaine, but that just cause the spider to come flying out, problem solved. Oh dear God. That might turn me into the moaning coma guy. After I screamed myself hoarse. I’m not sure I can go to sleep now. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/26 "2012-10-08T03:05:00Z")
So, this establishes a market for custom fitted, acoustically transparent mesh ear hole grilles, right? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/27 "2012-10-08T04:12:20Z")
I’ve known quite a few people with a bug up their ass. But that’s not quite the same thing, is it? Yes, I’ve had bugs fly into my ear. I _hate_ that feeling. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/28 "2012-10-08T07:21:40Z")
As I have mentioned before, a roach - one of the tropical, 2-inch-long ones - crawled into my husband’s ear while we were sleeping one night. The physician on night duty at the clinic said he was lucky it was a big one - it’s harder to get the small ones out. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/29 "2012-10-09T01:40:50Z")
It’s common as all get-out. I’ve removed bugs from ears many times in my career. The only people with real ear damage are the ones who tried to dig them out themselves. If gentle irrigation with water or water/vinegar mix doesn’t get it out, go to urgent care. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/30 "2012-10-09T03:18:00Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > A terrifyingly (to me anyway!) high number of posters have had a bug fly in their ear or known someone who has. Horrifying as these personal tales are, as the saying goes, the plural of anecdote is not data… But… > [@bot3](#): > > We get to the hospital and the attending physician (an older gentleman if I remember) takes a look at starts to chuckle. He takes a water powered syringe and flushes out my ear. A moth had flown into it. > > Now here is the funny part, The Doctor kept chuckling and explained that this phenomenon was quite common among campers … > [@overlyverbose](#): > > I had to take my son to the ER when he was 2.5 due to a suspected bug in the ear from when we were at a local lake. Luckily there was nothing there, but the ER doc indicated that it was shockingly common, … > [@outlierrn](#): > > We see these in the ER on a regular, though not necessarily frequent basis. > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > It’s common as all get-out. I’ve removed bugs from ears many times in my career. I’m afraid that does count as data. So I repeat - this establishes a market for custom fitted, acoustically transparent mesh ear hole grilles, right? And let me clarify this time: DEAR GOD SOMEBODY GET BUSY MAKING THIS PRODUCT!! ---
**Author:** ![Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/31 "2012-10-09T03:57:14Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > Horrifying as these personal tales are, as the saying goes, the plural of anecdote is not data… But… > > I’m afraid that does count as data. > > So I repeat - this establishes a market for custom fitted, acoustically transparent mesh ear hole grilles, right? > > And let me clarify this time: DEAR GOD SOMEBODY GET BUSY MAKING THIS PRODUCT!! I dunno man, closing off the ears while leaving other orifices open might be too inviting. [I think it’s best to go all the way.](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1064/898189992_f0a4b160f6.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/32 "2012-10-09T13:41:12Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > Horrifying as these personal tales are, as the saying goes, the plural of anecdote is not data… But… > > I’m afraid that does count as data. > > So I repeat - this establishes a market for custom fitted, acoustically transparent mesh ear hole grilles, right? > > And let me clarify this time: DEAR GOD SOMEBODY GET BUSY MAKING THIS PRODUCT!! They could modify these [nostril filters](http://www.gizmag.com/first-defense-nasal-screens-filter-out-allergens/18296/). Yes, they’re real; I saw them on Shark Tank! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/33 "2012-10-09T15:09:29Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > They could modify these [nostril filters](http://www.gizmag.com/first-defense-nasal-screens-filter-out-allergens/18296/). > > Yes, they’re real; I saw them on Shark Tank! I saw it too! I love Shark Tank… ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/34 "2012-10-09T20:56:00Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > I’m afraid that does count as data. When you get right down to it, a lot of data is merely high quality anecdote. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/35 "2012-10-10T01:29:37Z")
[http://www.popthatzit.com/2010/11/gross-ear-tick/](http://www.popthatzit.com/2010/11/gross-ear-tick/) [http://www.popthatzit.com/2012/01/birth-of-a-beetle-graphic/](http://www.popthatzit.com/2012/01/birth-of-a-beetle-graphic/) [http://www.popthatzit.com/2012/01/new-year-maggot-party-spoiled-by-doctor/](http://www.popthatzit.com/2012/01/new-year-maggot-party-spoiled-by-doctor/) and of course… [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydXenL7iu0w) ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/36 "2012-10-10T01:58:42Z")
Oh god. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/37 "2012-10-10T02:09:40Z")
One of my friends woke up with a spider in his ear. I don’t remember the details because I was probably cringing when he told me. Now, I love spiders, so I hope that was an isolated event. ---
**Author:** ![bigkimshew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@bigkimshew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bigkimshew)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/38 "2012-10-10T02:13:54Z")
it is not unusual for a earwig 2 go in someones ear.it can cause balance problems.how 2 remove it?simple,mineral oil.they back right out…with a strand of ur brain…not really ---
**Author:** ![bigkimshew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@bigkimshew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bigkimshew)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/39 "2012-10-10T02:24:25Z")
i know this.why?friend had one in his ear.attached itself to his inner ear.couldn’t stand up and felt like hurlingfreaked him out.by the way.those aren’t pincers on a earwig.thats it’s sexual organs.which in a way is more disturbing.what is it doing in there? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890/40 "2012-10-10T02:36:25Z")
> [@bigkimshew](#): > > i know this.why?friend had one in his ear.attached itself to his inner ear.couldn’t stand up and felt like hurlingfreaked him out.by the way.those aren’t pincers on a earwig.thats it’s sexual organs.which in a way is more disturbing.what is it doing in there? No, they’re pincers. They pinch. They pinch prey, and they pinch other earwigs in defense and mating challenges and, uh, well, earwigs apparently like rough sex, because they do use their pincers in mating - but they’re not genitals, they’re pincers. While it’s not impossible for an earwig to wander into your ear, they’re no more prone to it than cockroaches and moths and spiders, name withstanding. There are no reports of actual injury from an earwig, other than the screaming heebie jeebies. And if an earwig can reach the \*inner \*ear, you’ve got more problems on your hands than a bug in your ear. Like, why your eardrum is missing. > **[Why Do Earwigs Have Pincers? - Earwig Anatomy | Orkin](https://www.orkin.com/pests/earwigs/earwig-pincers)** > > Why do earwigs have pincers? Read about earwig anatomy for facts about their size, pincers, and classification. For more information on earwig pincers or help with control, call the Orkin experts today to schedule an inspection. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-in-ears-the-horror/636890.md?page=3)