Earwigs

Earwigs are long (approximately 1/2-inch to 1-inch), dark-brown insects with short wings and a pair of pincer-like appendages at the tip of their abdomens. They are extremely fast runners, and although flying is not their preferred mode of transportation, they can fly in short bursts. Earwigs are mostly active at night, as they are nocturnal.

At night, earwigs are drawn to street lights, neon lights, lighted windows, or similarly lit locations. During the day, they are attracted to dark and protected areas to rest and hide. In general, they are attracted to moist areas around your home. In the dark, earwigs are most likely to be near a light source where they are looking for food. During the day, they can be found in hiding places like:

In cracks and crevices

Under bark

Under rocks

Under the soil

Under debris

Heavily thatched lawns

Mulched flower beds

Contrary to an unfounded old wives’ tale, earwigs are neither destructive nor dangerous to humans. Fortunately, they will not crawl into your ears and lay eggs on your brain – or, at least, they’re no more likely to than any other insect! Their pincers might look menacing but are not strong enough to harm us. Rather, these forceps are used to fend off predators or capture prey. They are also used in earwig mating rituals.