With dozens of species found all over the world, you can find a variety of earwigs around the home or out in the wilderness.
How to Identify Different Types of Earwigs
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European Earwigs (Forficula auricularia)
Known as the common earwig, the European earwig is the most common of its kind in the United States. Typically found in cool and moist spots in and around the home, it is a nocturnal scavenger bug, always searching for food and a safe environment. This type of earwig feeds on dead and decaying vegetation along with other insects.
Roughly an inch long, these pests can be intimidating with their distinguished pincers at the end of their body. But not to worry, as earwigs are not a dangerous bug and pose no real threat to people, other than disrupting their garden life.
Males and females have differences as well. “Male earwigs have larger, curved and more widely spaced forceps, which are often used for defense and to attract a mate. On the other hand, female earwigs have less pronounced forceps – more slender and straighter than their male counterparts,” says Ian Williams, a board-certified entomologist.
“Also, female earwigs are unique in the insect world because they protect their eggs and even feed their newly hatched young for a short time,” Williams adds.
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Ring-Legged Earwigs (Euborellia annulipes)
The ring-legged earwig is a frequent insect found in the southern states of America. Unlike the European earwig, the ring-legged earwigs in America are without wings. They get their name from the dark circles surrounding their legs’ yellowish coloration.
This earwig is slightly darker than the common earwig and can be found most often outdoors, feasting on vegetation and other insects.
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Striped Earwigs (Labidura riparia)
Striped earwigs are referred to by many names that include the riparian earwig, shore earwig or the tawny earwig. Most known as the striped earwig, this insect is distinguished from others in their order by the pair of stripes on the front portion of their back.
Holding a lighter brown, almost tannish color, the striped earwig is quite the predator. Their pest control abilities are one of the highest for earwigs, as they will hunt and eat a multitude of living and dead insects, including but not limited to other larvae, eggs, scavenged meat, millipedes, spiders, caterpillars and more.
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Maritime Earwigs (Anisolabis maritima)
Maritime earwigs, or seaside earwigs, are typically found around the coast. While unable to swim, they feed on other insects in the wet sands of the beach. Like other earwig species, they are nocturnal insects, hunting at night and burrowing in cool, moist locations during the day.
Maritime earwigs have a similar appearance to others of their kind, having a blackish exterior, yellow underbelly and legs and noticeable pincers. Unlike some of their counterparts, these earwigs do not have a pair of wings and cannot fly.
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Seashore Earwigs (Anisolabis littorea)
Like maritime earwigs, the seashore earwig is a native insect to Australia and New Zealand. It is found on beaches, hiding in the sand and under stones. Unlike the maritime earwig, which has a darker black coloration on the whole of its back, the seashore earwig has some lighter brown pigmentation near the front of its back.
Like most other earwigs, the seashore earwig is a predator of other insects, feeding on pests such as ants and fleas. But don’t expect to find this type of earwig infesting your home, unless you live near big bodies of water.
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Saint Helena Earwigs (Labidura herculeana)
The St. Helena earwig, also known as the giant earwig, was a species of earwig prevalent on the island of Saint Helena in the Atlantic Ocean. It was noticeably larger than others of its kind, averaging around 3 inches in length (the common earwig is one inch).
However, the St. Helena earwig is now considered extinct due to habitat changes on the island and the addition of fierce predators such as mice, rats and spiders.
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FAQ
How many types of earwigs are there?
There are over 2,000 types of earwig species.
How do I get rid of earwigs?
To eliminate earwigs, you should destroy their preferred habitats by reducing moisture, clearing waste, sealing entry points, removing food sources and setting traps.
About the Experts
- Danielle Restuccia is the division technical services manager for Orkin’s Northeast Division.
- Ian Williams is a board-certified entomologist who specializes in urban entomology and is a technical services manager for Rollins Inc.
