Earwig
Description:
Adults and nymphs have characteristic "pinchers" or forceps-like structures on the back
end of their brown to black somewhat flattened bodies.
They may be as long as 1 inch and have three pairs of well-developed legs.
Nymphal stages are wingless, but some adult earwigs have hind wings neatly folded
underneath short cover-like forewings. However, they rarely fly.
Life Cycle:
All developmental stages are able to overwinter.
Eggs are produced in clusters and hatch in about 2 weeks.
Female earwigs stay with the eggs and young nymphs.
Nymphs leave the nest is a few days and thereafter develop through
five stages (instars) over about 45 to 176 days, depending on temperature.
Adult males have larger, more curved forceps than do females.
One to two generations are produced annually.
Pest Status:
Generally harmless; feed mainly on arthropods and decaying organic matter.
They can be a nuisance when they invade homes.
Control:
Indoors, seek out and eliminate harborage areas attractive to earwigs,
such as leaky plumbing or other high-humidity areas.
Earwigs are easily killed by residual insecticide treatments but, focus your chemical control
efforts on the outdoors because that is where the problem originates.
