European Earwig

Moist, cool, dark places outdoors under stones, bark, mulch, and leaf litter; occasionally enters homes seeking moisture or shelter.

Omnivorous, feeding on decaying organic matter, plants, insects, and occasionally living plant shoots or fruit.

Nocturnal insects that hide during the day. They use their characteristic abdominal pincers (cerci) for defense, capturing prey, and mating. Females show maternal care by guarding their eggs.

Earwigs do not transmit diseases and are generally harmless to humans, though they can pinch defensively if handled. They can be garden pests by damaging soft fruits and flowers, but they also help control other pest insects like aphids.