 
For some reason people aren't too fond of earwigs, possibly because they look scary, and some people believe that they crawl into your ears when you're sleeping to lay eggs. This isn't true, of course. Moreover, earwigs can't use their pincers to attack. They're harmless to people.Earwigs are a nuisance problem only in summer. They're most active at night, and hide during the day in dark damp areas. They can enter homes and other buildings, sometimes in large numbers. However, they don't cause damage to property or food, but they can chew holes in leaves and flower blossoms. Earwigs are about one and a half centimetres long, with a flat, reddish brown body and very short wings. They have medium length antennae and chewing mouthparts. They have a pair of strong pincers on the tip of their abdomen. Earwigs use their pincers to protect themselves from predators, and to grab and hold prey. 
Earwigs can be found under potted plants, leaves and in cracks between pavers and bricks. Earwigs are scavengers, feeding on damaged and decaying plant matter, and dead insects and other small organisms. Earwigs will also feed on healthy plant material in your garden.Earwigs mate in the fall and males and females usually spend the winter together in specially constructed nests. In early spring, females force the males out and then lay eggs. Female earwigs are very maternal, which is unusual for insects. They guard and protect their eggs and newly hatched young, which hatch in about a week. Earwig nymphs emerge from the nest sometime from late May to early June. They mature into adults in late June or early July and are active through the fall. While earwigs are harmless to humans ... their pincers won't hurt if you let them grab your finger ... they can give off a foul odor due to liquid released from their abdomen. |