About 10 species occur in Texas, but only a few are common. However, these beetles have no forceps-like structure on the end of the abdomen. All developmental stages are able to overwinter . Eggs are produced in clusters and hatch in about 2 weeks. Female earwigs stay with the eggs and young nymphs .
Adult males have larger, more curved forceps than do females.
One to two generations are produced annually. They also occur indoors, particularly during periods of unfavorable outdoor conditions. They feed mainly on both dead and living insects and mosses, lichens, algae and fungi. Indoors, their food consists of sweet, oily and greasy foods. Some species emit a foul odor when crushed.