Earwig - Forficula auricularia                                    Joseph Berger , The University of Georgia, www.ipmimages.org                    HOSTS: Decomposing organic residue; found on fruit and corn ears. DESCRIPTION: Earwigs are about 3/4 inch long, dark reddish-brown, and have two long pinchers on the rear. Although able to fly, they rarely do. LIFE CYCLE: Earwigs are one of the only insects that care for and rear their young. Most of their hunting/foraging is done at night while their days are spent hiding in cracks and crevices. CONTROLS: In spite of their appearance, earwigs are harmless to humans. In fact, if you can tolerate them, they are beneficial insects in the yard and garden because they attack pests such as mites and aphids. On occasion, they will eat small holes in the leaf margins of plants, such as radishes, and they will sometimes damage new growth on plant seedlings. Earwigs are frequently blamed for damage that is actually being caused by slugs, cutworms, snails, or other pests. To be certain which pest is causing the damage, several nighttime checks with a flashlight would expose the culprit. Mechanical: Trap earwigs by laying down rolled up newspapers in their area. (Earwigs have a habit of crawling into small places to hide.) Each day, shake the insects from the rolled paper into a bucket of soapy water to kill them. You can also trap earwigs by placing 1/2 inch vegetable oil in shallow cans such as tuna or cat food. Place several cans around the problem area and empty periodically. Indoors, individuals can be vacuumed. If numbers are large or chronic, caulk cracks around doors and windows to prevent entry. Also, replace any worn out weather stripping under doors and screen doors. Mineral: Diatomaceous earth and silica aerogel may be used to minimize populations indoors. Botanical: Insecticidal soap containing pyrethrum is an effective formulation for controlling earwigs; however, the soap must come in direct contact with the insect so spray it directly on them. Soap that does not come in direct contact will have no effect, nor will it leave residues to control the insects.
Missoula County Extension Office; Missoula, Montana 59808 - Updated for 2006