Appearance:

5/8 inch long, dark reddish-brown, with yellow-brown legs; large forceps (cerci) on the end of the abdomen, which pose no threat to humans.

Habits:

Found all over homes, particularly in cracks and crevices near or on the ground; active primarily at night.

Diet:

Scavengers; will eat just about anything.

Reproduction:

Up to 60 eggs are laid in burrows in the ground and guarded by the female; hatch in the spring.

Other Info:

Many species have a gland which secretes a foul-smelling, yellowish brown liquid when threatened.  Earwigs hide during the day under debris or in dark spaces, emerging at night to feed on plants, organic wastes, and smaller insects.  The common name comes from a totally unfounded superstition that these insects crawl into people's ears at night to bite them.  Earwigs are harmless, only occasionally damaging flower blossoms.