Body length: 10mm to 14mm
Colour: dark brown
Information
The Common European earwig is between 10 and 14mm in body length, dark brown in appearance, have wings but never fly. They are a nocturnal insect being active by night, and hiding during the day in moist shady areas for example, beneath stones or within cracks and crevices.
Earwigs are essentially a garden pest living outdoors and do not normally live indoors. They prefer moisture and may come indoors during periods of prolonged heat and drought. They are harmless to humans, although can pinch the skin with their forceps if provoked. Earwigs feed on a variety of substances from flowers, decaying organic matter, vegetables, fruits and other plants, leaving leaves ragged in appearance with small, irregular holes. Some earwigs are predatory, feeding on aphids, insects and spiders.
Life cycle
Eggs are laid in the spring by the female in batches of 30 in cells, usually 4 to 7cm beneath the surface of the soil. The eggs hatch after a few days. The young nymphs, which are smaller versions of the adults, are tended by the mother until the first moult. After 4 moults, the young adults leave the nest and fend for themselves. Earwigs survive the winter as eggs and adults.
Control
Earwigs are attracted to moisture. Large populations, practically unnoticeable during the day, may be present around the building's foundations or flower beds. Eliminate damp, moist conditions found in sub floor spaces and along house foundations, for example, leaking gutters or drainpipes. Sealing gaps around doors, windows pipes and other points of entry, cover air vents with insect screening mesh, especially at the ground level, will prevent earwigs entering the house. Changing the landscape around the house producing a clean, dry border around the foundation walls and using gravel or ornamental stones can make an attractive barrier against earwigs and other pest invaders.
Effective chemical control can be achieved by applying residual insecticide externally around the house.
