
Community identification
Earwig (likely European earwig)
Forficula auricularia
- Order & Family
- Dermaptera; Forficulidae
- Size
- Adults are typically 12–16 mm long, excluding the forceps.
Natural Habitat
Moist, sheltered places such as leaf litter, mulch, gardens, wall crevices, and homes, especially at night.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous and mostly nocturnal; eats decaying plant matter, tender vegetation, fungi, small insects, and aphids.
Behavior Patterns
Recognized by paired abdominal pincers (cerci), used in defense, courtship, and handling food. Females guard and clean their eggs and young; adults hide by day and may enter buildings seeking shelter.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans and not venomous; the pincers rarely cause more than a mild pinch. It can damage seedlings or flowers but also consumes aphids, insect eggs, and decomposing material.