European Earwig

Damp, dark places such as under mulch, garden debris, rocks, and logs. They are also found in urban gardens and inside homes.

Omnivorous; they eat decaying plant matter, fungi, and live plants, but also hunt small insects like aphids and mites.

Nocturnal insects that use their pinchers (cerci) for defense and mating. Females exhibit rare maternal care, guarding their eggs and nymphs.

Beneficial as they prey on garden pests like aphids, but can become a nuisance by damaging seedlings or fruit. They are harmless to humans; though they can pinch, they are not venomous.