Earwigs are members of the insect Order Dermaptera and are recognized by their slender bodies and rarely used wings. Their name comes from an old European myth that says
Earwigs are slender red-brown insects (3/4 inch long) with elongated, flattened bodies distinguished by a pair of sharp pincers or forceps protruding from their abdomen at the tail end,
Adults overwinter in the soil. Females lay 20-50 cream-colored eggs in underground nests during January and February, and the newly hatched young (nymphs) first appear in April.
In terms of habitat, earwigs look for environments with moisture and humidity. So outside, they can be found under piles of wet leaves, lawn debris, mulch, or in tree holes.
While earwigs may be menacing in appearance, they are harmless to humans. Besides not crawling into people’s ears at night, earwigs do not spread diseases either.