The cerci are used for defense and for capturing prey. Contrary to the old wives' tale, they do not crawl into your ears at night. These insects do not bite humans. They are mainly scavengers, feeding on organic material, garbage, and dead insects. Some herbivorous species can damage young crop plants and ornamentals, especially when the earwigs occur in large numbers.
Some species are predatory on other insects, especially larvae.
Note that earwigs are somewhat flattened and very flexible. This enables them to hide in all sorts of nooks and crannies by day, and come out at night to feed. Their nocturnal habits explain why many people never see them until they turn over a board, a piece of siding, or almost anywhere that might provide a good hiding place. The adults have a pair of wings beneath the leathery wing covers and are capable of flying. Labia minor , a scavenger and a predator, is an introduced species.