Earwigs have large, pincers-like protrusions at the rear of the body, which give them an evil appearance, but they don't harm people directly. Still, they can cause people problems by feeding on flowers and vegetables outdoors, by crawling into the home, and by congregating under well caps. Until 1982 European earwig reports in Wisconsin were limited to the Lake Michigan shoreline. But in the years since, earwig infestations have spread fast across Wisconsin.
Earwigs use their cerci for defense, capturing prey, and sensing the environment.
The cerci can pinch you if you stick a finger between them, but they can't break the skin. Male earwigs have curved cerci that are thicker at the base, while females have thin, straight cerci. In Wisconsin, pairs of earwigs overwinter by digging 2-3 inches into the soil to hibernate. Sometime during the winter or early spring the female lays 25-30 eggs. Males leave the hibernation sites first, and the females follow in late May.