The European earwig is a cosmopolitan species which was introduced to North America in the early 1900's. This insect rarely flies and is adapted for transportation by man through bundles of newspaper, luggage, cut flowers, automobiles, etc. This insect hides in any dark, moist crevice, such as balled plants and boards. History Adult European earwigs mate in late summer and early fall before establishing subterranean nests. Before oviposition, males return to the surface from mid-February to April.
European earwigs exhibit one generation per year even though some females can produce two broods.
The female European earwig invests high maternal care for eggs and early nymphal stages. After the eggs are laid, the female European earwig gathers the eggs together in a pile and stores them in a shallow hole, over which she stands guard. In the first batch, females lay from 30 to 55 eggs. Fewer eggs are laid in the second batch. Eggs of the first brood hatch in 70 days after being laid because of the cool spring temperatures and eggs laid in late spring or summer take only about 20 days to hatch.