Bug Identifier
Earwig (likely a juvenile European earwig)
Community identification

Earwig (likely a juvenile European earwig)

Forficula auricularia

Order & Family
Dermaptera; Forficulidae
Size
Adults are typically 12–16 mm long, excluding the forceps; juveniles are smaller and lack fully developed wings and pincers.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Moist, sheltered places such as leaf litter, mulch, gardens, under stones, and buildings. They are mainly nocturnal and may enter homes seeking moisture.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous, feeding on decaying plant matter, algae, fungi, small insects, and soft plant tissues. They may scavenge household food residues.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and moisture-seeking, hiding during daylight. Females guard and tend their eggs and young; juveniles molt several times before adulthood.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to people and not venomous; the abdominal forceps are used for defense and mating but rarely pinch humans. Earwigs recycle organic matter and eat some aphids, though they can occasionally damage flowers, fruit, and seedlings.