Earwig (order Dermaptera)

How to Identify Them

Earwigs have long, flattened bodies, short wing covers and forceps-like pincers at the rear. Males usually have more curved pincers; females have straighter ones. They run quickly when disturbed and may raise their pincers defensively.

Common look-alikes:

• Rove beetles: also have short wing covers but no pincers.
• Silverfish: silvery and wingless with three bristles instead of pincers. See silverfish.

Signs of Earwigs

• Earwigs under pots, mats, pavers and mulch
• Earwigs in garages, laundry rooms and bathrooms
• Ragged holes in tender plant leaves or flowers
• Large numbers near doors after heavy rain

Prevention Tips

• Keep mulch thin and pulled back from the foundation.
• Fix sprinklers that spray the house.
• Move pots and debris away from doors.
• Install door sweeps and seal gaps.
• Reduce outdoor lights near entryways.

Earwigs and Your Lanai, Pool Deck and Garden

Lanais and pool decks often have exactly what earwigs want: potted plants that are watered daily, saucers holding water, outdoor rugs that stay damp and pavers with gaps underneath. Lift a doormat or a planter on a summer morning and you may find a cluster of earwigs. Letting pots dry between waterings, emptying saucers, raising pots on feet and drying outdoor rugs in the sun cut down on these hiding spots.

In vegetable and flower gardens, earwigs can chew holes in seedlings, basil, flowers and soft fruit. They also eat aphids and other small insects, so they're not all bad. If damage is noticeable, reduce mulch thickness around tender plants and remove boards and debris they hide under during the day.