Earwigs are among the most readily recognized insect pests in home gardens.  A lot of people refer to them as “pincher bugs.”  Although earwigs can devastate seedling vegetables or annual flowers, they also have a beneficial role in the landscape and have been shown to be important predators of aphids.

Earwigs feed most actively at night and seek out dark, cool, moist places to hide during the day. Common hiding places are under loose clods of soil, tree bark and woodpiles.  Earwigs may seek refuge indoors when conditions outside are too dry, hot, or cold. Large accumulations of earwigs can be annoying but present no health hazards. Sweep or vacuum them up and seal entry points. Earwigs eventually die indoors because there is little for them to eat.