The Earwig Myth
Earwigs were given their name from a folk story that they crawl into a person’s ears and eat their brains. Contrary to the stories, they are not aggressive, are not drawn to human ears, and do not spread disease. Their frightening presence normally alarms most homeowners when they are found. The long cerci, or clippers, on their backsides which they use to defend themselves and capture pray, help you to easily identify them.
They are generally reddish brown to black and are usually found in groups. They are drawn to moist, shady locations. Normally they hide themselves during the day and come out to feed on leaves, flowers, fruits, mold and insects at night. You will normally find them in damp garden areas, in mulch or in tree holes. They usually enter your home through cracks in the exterior of your home.
