Males usually have longer, curved cerci than females' shorter straight forceps.
Some species can inflict a painful pinch with their cerci, but most species are harmless if handled.
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.