Earwig

Natural Habitat

Dark, moist environments such as under rocks, logs, mulch, and inside crevices or damp areas within buildings.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous; they consume decaying plant matter, smaller insects (like aphids), and occasionally flowers or soft vegetation.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal insects that use their characteristic pincers (cerci) for defense and grooming; they are also known for maternal care of eggs and nymphs.

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to humans; they can pinch with their cerci but are not venomous. They benefit the ecosystem by eating garden pests like aphids, though they can occasionally damage crops if populations are high.

Identified on: 1/10/2026