Common earwig

Taxonomic classification: The common earwig (Forficula auricularia) belongs to the order Dermaptera and the family Forficulidae. They are easily identified by their elongated bodies and the pair of pincer-like cerci located at the end of the abdomen, which are distinctively curved in males and straighter in females.

Biology and life cycle: Earwigs are nocturnal insects that thrive in moist, dark environments. They have one generation per year. Adults typically hibernate in the soil or under debris. In spring, females build nests in the soil to lay their eggs, where they provide maternal care to the eggs and early-instar nymphs until they are ready to forage.

Host plants and damage: These pests are polyphagous and feed on a wide variety of plants including vegetables (lettuce, cabbage, potato), ornamental flowers (dahlias, marigolds, roses), and soft fruits. They chew irregular, ragged holes in leaves, petals, and young shoots. They can also feed on the soft skin of ripening fruits, leading to significant cosmetic and structural damage.

Pest significance: High populations of earwigs can cause substantial damage to both garden plants and agricultural crops. Beyond direct feeding, the tissue damage they cause facilitates secondary infections by fungi and bacteria, which can cause rotting of fruit and wilting of plant tissues, ultimately reducing the overall yield and market value of the produce.

Control measures: Effective management relies on a combination of cultural and chemical strategies:

• Sanitation: removing piles of garden debris, leaf litter, and wood where earwigs hide.
• Trapping: using damp rolled-up newspapers, corrugated cardboard, or inverted flower pots filled with hay.
• Moisture management: reducing excessive soil moisture near plant bases.
• Chemical control: using insecticidal baits or sprays in the evening when the insects are most active.