Many people refer to them as “pincher bugs,” but earwig is their official name. These insects are easily recognized by their long, smooth bodies and pair of appendages at the tip of their abdomen called “cerci”. Pincer-like in appearance, the cerci are fairly straight on female earwigs and tend to be more curved on the male of the species. The common earwig is about 5/8 of an inch long. They are dark brown to reddish-brown in color and occur as winged and wingless insects. Their name comes from the old myth that these insects would enter human ears, burrow into the brain and lay their eggs. There is no truth to this myth.
Earwigs prefer to live outside. They hide during the daytime in moist, shady places such as under rocks, logs, flower pots or in mulch. Earwigs can make their way indoors, typically by accident, when the conditions outdoors become too harsh for ideal living, such as when the temperatures start to increase or if there is lack of moisture. They get inside our homes or businesses through small holes in brick, cracks in the foundation or siding or by an object getting carried inside that was once located outside, such as the newspaper, lawn furniture, children’s toys or flower pots. Inside a structure, earwigs will hide under rugs, in potted plants, in clutter on the floor or in damp basements.
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