Few household insects have a worse reputation than the earwig.
Just hearing the name is enough to make some people uneasy.
For centuries, people believed these insects crawled into sleeping people’s ears and burrowed into their brains.
Thankfully, that’s nothing more than an old myth.
In reality, earwigs are far less frightening than their appearance suggests.
Those intimidating pincers on the end of their abdomen may look dangerous, but earwigs are generally harmless to people. They spend most of their lives hiding beneath mulch, rocks, logs, flower pots, and other damp places before becoming active after dark. When they wander indoors, they’re usually looking for moisture or shelter rather than people.
If you’ve recently discovered one in your bathroom, basement, garage, or garden, this guide will explain exactly what earwigs are, why they’re there, whether you should worry, and how to keep them from becoming a nuisance.
The Short Answer
Earwigs are medium-sized insects known for the pair of forceps, or pincers, at the end of their abdomen.
Most earwigs:
- Measure about ½ to ¾ inch long.
- Are reddish-brown to dark brown.
- Have six legs and long antennae.
- Hide during the day.
- Become active at night.
- Prefer cool, damp environments.
Although they may occasionally pinch if handled, earwigs aren’t considered dangerous to people and don’t crawl into human ears despite the long-standing myth.
What Exactly Is an Earwig?
Earwigs belong to the insect order Dermaptera, a group recognized by the distinctive forceps at the end of the abdomen.
There are more than a thousand species worldwide, but the European earwig is the species homeowners most commonly encounter around houses in North America.
Unlike many insects that spend the day out in the open, earwigs avoid sunlight whenever possible.
You’ll usually find them hiding beneath:
- Mulch.
- Landscape stones.
- Flower pots.
- Firewood.
- Leaf piles.
- Boards lying on the ground.
- Damp debris.
Once evening arrives, they leave those hiding places to search for food.
Why Are Earwigs Called “Earwigs”?
The name comes from one of the oldest insect myths in history.
People once believed earwigs crawled into the ears of sleeping people, where they burrowed into the brain.
There has never been scientific evidence supporting that belief.
Modern entomologists consider it folklore, and earwigs have no interest in entering people’s ears.
What Do Earwigs Eat?
Earwigs have a surprisingly varied diet.
Depending on the species and available food, they may eat:
- Decaying plant material.
- Flowers.
- Fruits.
- Seedlings.
- Aphids.
- Small insects.
- Insect eggs.
- Organic debris.
That means they’re not entirely bad.
In gardens, earwigs sometimes help reduce populations of aphids and other soft-bodied pests, although large populations can also chew on flowers, vegetables, and young plants.
Why Do Earwigs Come Inside?
Finding an earwig indoors usually doesn’t mean your house is infested. If you're unsure when occasional sightings become a larger problem, whether indoor bugs mean an infestation covers the warning signs homeowners should watch for.
Most indoor sightings happen because earwigs accidentally wander inside while searching for moisture or shelter.
They’re especially attracted to:
- Damp basements.
- Bathrooms.
- Laundry rooms.
- Garages.
- Crawl spaces.
During very hot, dry weather, they may also move indoors because conditions outside become too dry for them. Likewise, heavy rains can drive them inside after their outdoor hiding places become saturated.
Are Earwigs Dangerous?
Despite the frightening appearance of their pincers, earwigs are one of the most misunderstood insects homeowners encounter.
They’re not aggressive.
They don’t hunt people.
And they certainly don’t crawl into your ears.
In fact, most earwigs spend their entire lives trying to avoid humans.
If disturbed, they’ll usually run for cover rather than stand their ground.
Do Earwigs Bite or Pinch?
Technically…
They can pinch.
But it’s usually nothing more than a mild surprise.
Those forceps at the end of an earwig’s body are primarily used for:
- Defending themselves.
- Catching small prey.
- Mating.
- Competing with other earwigs.
If you pick one up, it may try to pinch your skin.
Most people describe it as less painful than a small ant bite, and many earwigs aren’t even strong enough to break human skin.
I’ll cover that topic in much greater detail in my guide about Do Earwigs Bite? The Truth Explained.
Can Earwigs Damage Your Home?
Unlike termites or carpenter ants, earwigs don’t damage the structure of your home.
They don’t:
- Eat wood.
- Tunnel through walls.
- Destroy insulation.
- Chew electrical wiring.
- Damage furniture.
Most indoor earwigs are simply temporary visitors looking for a cool, damp place to hide.
If they stay indoors for very long, they usually die because houses don’t provide the moisture and food they need to survive.
Are Earwigs Good for the Garden?
Surprisingly…
Sometimes they are.
Earwigs are opportunistic feeders.
They’ll happily eat:
- Aphids.
- Insect eggs.
- Small caterpillars.
- Dead insects.
- Decaying organic matter.
Those foods actually make them beneficial in many gardens.
The downside is that large earwig populations can also feed on:
- Lettuce.
- Strawberries.
- Dahlias.
- Marigolds.
- Seedlings.
- Soft fruits.
Whether they’re considered helpful or harmful usually depends on how many are present.
Why Are Earwigs Suddenly Around My House?
Most homeowners notice earwigs after periods of unusual weather.
Heavy rain often floods their outdoor hiding places.
Hot, dry weather removes the moisture they need.
Either situation can push earwigs toward your home, where they’re attracted to damp, shaded areas around the foundation.
Common hiding places include:
- Landscape mulch.
- Flower beds.
- Firewood.
- Compost piles.
- Leaf litter.
- Beneath outdoor furniture.
Once they’re close to the house, a few may wander indoors through small gaps around doors, windows, or the foundation. For a beetle that may be entering through similar household openings, small gaps around doors, windows, or the foundation offers a more specific inspection checklist.
How Do You Get Rid of Earwigs?
The best approach is to focus on the source rather than the individual insects you happen to see.
I recommend:
- Reducing moisture around the foundation.
- Pulling mulch several inches away from the house.
- Cleaning up leaves and organic debris.
- Sealing cracks around doors and windows.
- Eliminating damp hiding places outdoors.
Inside the house, one of my favorite tools is the Catchmaster Spider & Insect Traps Indoor Sticky Glue Boards (12 Pack).
I use them along baseboards, beneath sinks, and in basements to monitor activity and catch wandering earwigs before they spread through the house. I explain exactly how I use them in my article about the Best Indoor Bug Trap That Actually Works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do earwigs really crawl into people’s ears?
No. This is an old myth that has been repeated for centuries, but there is no scientific evidence that earwigs seek out human ears or burrow into people’s brains.
Can earwigs hurt humans?
Not in any meaningful way. They may give a small defensive pinch if handled, but they’re not considered dangerous and don’t spread diseases.
Why do I keep finding earwigs in my house?
Earwigs usually enter homes while searching for moisture or shelter. They’re commonly found in bathrooms, basements, garages, and other damp areas.
Should I kill earwigs?
A few earwigs outdoors are usually beneficial because they eat other insects and help break down organic matter. However, if they’re becoming a nuisance indoors or damaging garden plants, reducing moisture and using monitoring traps are good first steps. For dry indoor cracks and pathways, a nonchemical crawling-bug treatment like nonchemical crawling-bug treatment may complement monitoring without relying on repeated spraying.
Do earwigs mean I have a moisture problem?
Sometimes. Frequent indoor sightings often indicate excess moisture around your home’s foundation, basement, crawl space, or bathroom. Correcting those conditions can greatly reduce future earwig problems.
About the Author
Daniel Brooks is an urban entomology educator with more than 15 years of experience helping homeowners identify common household pests and understand why they’re invading their homes. He specializes in practical, science-backed prevention strategies and long-term pest control solutions that solve problems at their source.
