Earwigs
Earwigs are beetle-like, short-winged, fast moving insects about
1/2" in length. They are usually dark brown and have a pair of
pincer-like appendages at the tip of the abdomen. Their mouthparts are
adapted for chewing. They have a very slow development.
Earwigs are active at night. They usually hide in cracks
and crevices, under bark, etc., during the day. They are typically
scavengers, but may occasionally feed on plants. The name earwig comes
from an old superstition that these insects enter peoples' ears.
However, earwigs are harmless to man. Some earwigs have scent glands
that excrete a foul-smelling liquid. This is probably used for
protection. It makes them very unpleasant when handled or mashed.
The striped earwig adults are dark brown with light tan
markings. The males are large and robust with stout pincers. The
females are somewhat smaller and lighter in color than the males.
Earwigs are commonly found in areas having sandy or clay soils. They
live in burrows under the ground or under debris. They usually remain
outdoors unless populations are large or other adverse conditions
exist. They enter structures in search of food or a more suitable
environment or just by accidental meanderings.
Because they are active at night, they remain in the soil
or under debris during the day. At night they collect in large numbers
around lights to search for food, such as other insects. The female
lays about 50 eggs in a subterranean burrow. Young nymphs are about
1/8" long and resemble termites. Females care for this first nymphal
stage. After the nymphs begin to molt, they are on their own and must
hide from the cannibalistic behavior of the female and other nymphs.
After 6 molts, the earwig is an adult with the life cycle taking about
56 days. Adults typically over-winter outdoors and may live up to 7
months.
Allgood Pest Solutions provides Pest Control and Termite Control
for Georgia including Atlanta, Marietta, Kennesaw, Alpharetta, Roswell,
Duluth, Suwanee, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Dalton, Macon, Dublin,
Sandersville, Vidalia, Douglas, Savannah, McRae, Milledgeville,
Swainsboro, Brunswick, St. Mary's.
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