Earwigs

An earwig is reddish-brown and its long, flat body measures close to 2 cm. It is easily recognized by its two pincers fixed at the tip of its abdomen. The pincers of males are much bigger and curved to the inside whereas the females’ pincers are smaller and straight. Those pincers, called cerci, are used during courtship and as a defense against attackers. Earwigs are very useful to nature, as they feed on rotting matter, plant lice, slug eggs and other insects that destroy gardens. Most of the time, they can be found under old logs, under rocks or under tree bark, as they adore humidity. They can also enter our homes through cracks in the foundation or by crawling under exterior siding.