With their pincers or abdomen forceps, earwigs are somewhat intimidating, yet they do not produce poison or spread disease. The pincers are actually for defense and fighting other earwigs. There is a myth out there that the term earwig comes from the superstition that earwigs burrow into the ears of human and animals while they sleep. This does not meet the scientific standards for foundational validity… or does it. Earwigs can be a nasty garden pest if there is lots of ground cover, wet soil, and live sprouts or decaying vegetation. In late August, earwigs move into homes to find food and the oncoming change in weather seeking shelter (or just happen to wander inside through open doors). Earwigs prefer cool, damp areas and may enter homes during extended dry periods as well. Inside the house they are usually found where there is water – kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and sometimes find their way into bedrooms and family rooms.
