EARWIGS

The earwig is found in dark moist crevices and feeds on a variety of plants and will also feed on other insects.  Ship's cargos are often infested with earwigs.  They are a common insect in Southern Ontario.

We offer an interior and exterior treatment for earwigs which provides effective control throughout the season.

 Identification and biology of the European Earwig (Forficula auricularia)

• The adult is 5/8 inch long/the nymph has 4 instars, increasing in size with each moult.

• The earwig is dark reddish brown with a red head and yellow legs. There are forceps at the end of the abdomen (the female forceps are fairly straight sided and the males are rounded and caliper-like) and they have a foul odour.

• Metamorphosis is incomplete. In spring the female lays a batch of about 30 eggs in a nest in the soil. The female guard the eggs until first moult.

• The incubation period is about 20 days/nymphal stage lasts about 68 days.

• The earwig life cycle is about 1 year.

• The European earwig favours dark moist areas.