Bug Identifier
Earwig (likely European earwig)
Community identification

Earwig (likely European earwig)

Forficula auricularia

Order & Family
Dermaptera; Forficulidae
Size
Adults are typically 12–16 mm long, excluding the forceps.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.