Earwigs – occasional home invaders

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Earwig insects (order Dermaptera) will occasionally be found in homes, and often found in leaf litter and compost piles in the home garden. If you are seeing earwigs in your home, ensure leaf litter is moved away from your home, and consider moving your compost pile if it is close the home. Earwigs can be found around lights at night, and feed at night. These insects have impressive pincer-like appendages on their tail ends called cerci which can give a painful pinch. A majority of these species are predaceous, meaning they eat other insects including insects that are considered pests, and so are considered beneficial insects. Please visit your local county Extension office for assistance in submitting insect identification images or samples to the Plant Pest Laboratory!