Earwigs are common insects found in gardens and sometimes indoors. Understanding more about these nocturnal creatures helps clarify common misconceptions about them.
Do Earwigs Sting? Understanding Their Pincers
Earwigs do not sting, as they lack a stinger and venom glands. The prominent appendages at their rear are called cerci, often referred to as pincers or forceps. Male earwigs generally possess more curved pincers than females, whose pincers tend to be straighter.
The primary function of these pincers is for defense against predators. Earwigs may use them to deter perceived threats by raising their abdomen in a scorpion-like manner. Beyond defense, the cerci also play a role in capturing prey, particularly for predatory species, and in handling food. They are also involved in mating rituals, with their shape and size differing between sexes.
Earwigs can pinch if handled, but this action is harmless to humans and does not inject venom. A pinch might cause slight, momentary discomfort but rarely breaks the skin. If the skin is broken, treat it like any minor scratch, cleaning it to prevent infection from soil bacteria. The myth that earwigs crawl into ears and burrow into the brain is unfounded.
Earwig Habits and How to Manage Them
Earwigs prefer damp, cool, and dark environments, common in areas like leaf litter, under rocks, logs, mulch, and in cracks or crevices. They are nocturnal foragers, consuming a varied diet that includes decaying organic matter such as leaves and fungi. They also feed on plants, small insects like aphids and mites, and other arthropods.
Earwigs can sometimes enter homes, seeking moisture or shelter, and may be found in basements, bathrooms, or near sinks. They do not establish large indoor populations but can become a nuisance if numerous. Managing earwigs involves reducing moisture and eliminating their preferred hiding spots around the home and garden.
To deter earwigs, clean up plant debris, loose boards, and other ground-level hiding places. Sealing cracks and crevices around foundations, windows, and pipes can prevent entry into homes. Reducing damp conditions near faucets, air conditioning units, and house foundations is effective. Simple, non-toxic methods for outdoor management include using traps like damp rolled-up newspapers or shallow cans with oil, and applying diatomaceous earth around affected areas.