The typical reaction to seeing an earwig in the home is a scream and shudder. That's because these insects have large forceps on their rear that look like they can hurt you. Turns out, they can.
Earwigs can use their awful pinchers to grab onto your skin. They don't release venom, but their pinches can draw blood and/or become red and swollen. If one of their pinchers breaks off and enters your skin, you're more likely to have a swollen wound that can turn into a blister.
If an earwig's looks weren't enough to make you cringe, their scent may be. Some species of earwigs emit a foul odor when they feel threatened.
This yellow-brown, smelly secretion is sometimes released when earwigs are squished. If you've been trying to kill the earwig population in your home by stepping on them, you may have noticed their disgusting smell.
Earwigs can do a lot of good for your garden by consuming other, smaller pests, but they can also do some damage. These pests are omnivores, so they like to chew on leaves and flower buds, too. They are particularly drawn to ornamental and vegetable plants.
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Earwigs are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. During the day, they're typically sleeping in dark, moist places such as in your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. At night, they emerge to feed.
For this reason, it's hard to notice when you have an earwig problem. You may notice that indoor and outdoor plants have holes in the leaves, or that fruit on the counter have black spots and holes.
On top of everyting, earwigs can also fly. They are not great flyers, but they can use their wings to avoid danger or move between locations.
If you've ever tried to kill an earwig, you may have noticed that they can be hard to catch. Oftentimes when people see earwigs, they try to find something to squish them with, but by the time they do the bug is already gone.
