Inside roses, earwigs like to eat the stamens, the little stalks on which the pollen producing anthers are positioned. They are not above eating a hole in the petals or leaves too, just for spite. Earwigs are a curse to entomologists as well, causing them problems of a taxanomic nature. Most agree that earwigs should be placed in their own order, Dermaptera, referring to the strange short wings. Earwigs are nocturnal and generally are scavengers for food, but feed on plants when it suits them.
Earwigs like to hide in cracks and dark tight places.
Earwigs are not social, but are gregarious and may often be seen in large numbers under rocks or stones. The adult female earwig lays her eggs in masses in burrows in protected places and carefully guards them until they hatch. The plant damage is done by their chewing mouthparts, not by their forcepts-like cerci, the ominous pinchers found at the tail end of earwigs. These cerci are not dangerous, but earwigs are known for using them to attempt to free themselves from the grasp of vengeful rosarians. The earwigs body is quite maneuverable and these rascals have been known to inflict some discomfort before being torn in two or reduced to a brown smear.