Earwigs & crickets

Recognize the signs

Earwig forceps

Earwigs have paired forceps at the abdomen tip. Nymphs resemble smaller adults; adults usually have short wing covers. The forceps are not a scorpion-like stinging tail.

Cricket form

Crickets have long antennae and enlarged rear legs for jumping. The straight ovipositor of a female cricket is an egg-laying structure, not a sting.

Stage and location

Cricket and earwig young hatch from eggs and grow through nymphal molts. Adults drawn to a door light and small stages repeatedly found in indoor shelter suggest different inspection priorities.

Look more closely

Compare the labeled examples and their limits. Images are independently enlarged, not shown at a common scale.

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Differences that change the decision

A similar-looking organism can need a different response. Compare the evidence and what it changes.

Compare every column. On a narrow screen, scroll the table sideways.

What else could it be?

Cockroach nymphs

Lack the enlarged cricket jumping legs or earwig forceps. A clear side and top view helps distinguish a young insect.

Slugs and caterpillars

Can make similar plant holes. Look for the actual night feeder, slime, frass or webbing rather than diagnosing from damage alone.

Spiders

A camel cricket has six legs and antennae; a spider has eight legs and no antennae.

Compare spiders ↗

Inspect the right places

1. Check shelter and entry

   Inspect accessible basement clutter, door gaps and damp ground cover beside the building. Note whether sightings concentrate near lights or in dark, moist areas.

2. Confirm garden feeding

   Use a flashlight after dark at recently damaged seedlings, flowers or soft fruit. An earwig hiding in an already damaged fruit may not have caused the original injury.

3. Check fabric evidence

   Where crickets recur, inspect stored or soiled textiles for fresh damage and actual insects. Old holes alone cannot identify the cause.

Choose a proportionate response

For pesticides, the local product label determines the allowed pest, site, precautions and timing. Check safety and regional guidance.

1. Remove indoor visitors

   Sweep or vacuum individuals and reduce entry gaps. Improve ventilation or dehumidification where needed and remove damp cardboard or other unnecessary shelter.

2. Manage confirmed earwig damage

   Place rolled newspaper or similar shelter traps near affected plants in the evening and inspect them in the morning. Keep a catch and fresh-damage record; reduce excess nearby shelter and water without removing all beneficial habitat.

3. Reduce cricket access

   Repair door sweeps and screens and reduce unnecessary exterior light near entrances where light-attracted crickets recur. For camel crickets, concentrate on damp shelter and access instead.

4. Protect belongings

   Clean and dry affected textiles before storing them in protective containers. Persistent confirmed indoor activity warrants a source review rather than indiscriminate spraying.

Avoid these mistakes

• Do not treat earwigs as an ear-burrowing parasite; the name is not a medical diagnosis.
• Do not spray plants solely because an earwig was found nearby; it may be feeding on aphids or decaying material.
• Do not use indoor insecticide as a substitute for fixing repeated entry or moisture.
• Do not handle unfamiliar large insects merely because a guide says their group is usually low risk.

Check whether it is working

Prevent a return

• Keep damp clutter away from entry points and maintain appropriate drainage.
• Use practical screen and door repairs and shield unnecessary outdoor lighting.
• Inspect vulnerable young plants directly rather than scheduling preventive sprays.

Common questions