SIZE: A full grown adult earwig can range from 5mm to 25mm.
DESCRIPTION: These common outdoor insects are best known by their pincers that they have on the back of their abdomen. These pincers may look intimidating but are not poisonous nor do they spread disease. Earwigs have a brownish bronze look to their bodies with 2 antennae at the front.
BEHAVOIUR: Earwigs are harmless insects and are usually known for crawling into your ears while you sleep at night which is a myth, there is no scientific evidence that earwigs go into human’s ears. Although earwigs can run very fast the intimidating pincers on the back of their body is used for self-defense if need be against other earwigs or insects. Earwigs typically feed on decaying vegetation or live sprouts. Earwigs are nocturnal insects and are very active at night while during the day they hide in cracks and crevices in damp and moist areas.
HABITATS: Earwigs prefer cool, wet, humid and damp areas. Outdoors they can be found in cracks, crevices, under rocks, logs, mulch and flowerbeds where the conditions are cool and damp. Indoors they can be found in damp areas within the house such as the kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and anywhere where there is moisture. These insects are also attracted to light which means they can become a nuisance on porches and patios in the summer.
TIPS FOR CONTROL
It is important to focus on the outside of your home to prevent these insects from entering inside. The best way is to eliminate their hiding spots by doing the following:
