Size: |
Earwigs in the adult stage are about 1/4 to 1 in (5-25
mm) long. |
Characteristics: |
Flat, long body; front wings leathery, short, meeting in a straight
line down the back; hind wings fan shaped, folded under front wings;
rear with forceps-shaped appendage; antennae threadlike, about half
the length of the body. |
Color: |
Varies from pale brown with dark marks, to plain reddish brown,
to black with paler legs. |
Geographic Range: |
Earwigs are known worldwide; 22 species in the U.S. |
Comparison with other species: |
Rove beetle and other beetles with short wing covers do not have
the forceps-like appendage. Red-legged earwig is wingless, adults
usually 1/2-5/8 in 12-15 mm) long, dark brown with yellowish brown
underside, yellowish legs with brown stripes. Striped earwig (shore
or riparian earwig) is 3/4-1 in (20-25 mm) long, pale brown banded
abdomen, forceps darker at tips. |
Habitat: |
Earwigs overwinter outdoors, in pairs, beneath the soil surface
in 1-1.5 inch cells or in burrows. Females lay and tend their eggs
and newly hatched nymphs underground. . |
Food: |
Live or dead plants, insects. European earwigs have been observed
feeding on honey in beehives. |
Biology: |
Earwigs are active at night, hiding during daylight hours in moist,
shady places, under rocks and logs or in mulch. They cannot survive
long periods of dryness. They have a bad odor when crushed, and some
species can squirt a foul smelling liquid. The forceps may be used
to hold prey and for defense. They have 4-5 nymphal instars. Females
lay 30-55 eggs the first time, depending on the species. Sometimes
later layings are much smaller in number. Earwigs typically occur
in groups. Development takes between 40 and 80 days, depending on
the species. |
Invasion: |
Earwigs are attracted to light. European and red-legged earwigs
may invade homes. |
Damage: |
They sometimes damage cultivated plants. European earwigs may damage
vegetables, flowers, fruits, and ornamental plantings. Red-legged
earwigs have infested Irish and sweet potatoes in storage, roots of
greenhouse vegetables, flour mills and breweries. Striped earwigs
are not known to damage plants. |
