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Hey there,
Let’s retire the campfire classic: earwigs do not tunnel into ear canals to lay eggs. Cute ghost story. Still fiction. What they actually want? Crumbs, damp mulch, and the aphids turning your dahlias into an all-you-can-eat buffet.
The Misunderstood Earwigs
Sleek, brown, night-active, and sporting rear pincers—curvier in males, straighter in females. Those “weapons” are mostly multitools: posturing, flirting, even wing-folding. They’re origami-level masterpieces tucked under short covers. Earwigs can fly, but they usually prefer a low-drama jog.
Diet-wise, they’re opportunists: dead and decaying matter, the occasional tender seedling, and happily, soft-bodied pests like aphids and mites. Earwig moms guard and even clean their eggs to prevent mold. Rare insect TLC, 10/10 for housekeeping.
Campfire Lies vs. Facts
Lie: They crawl into ears and lay eggs.
Fact: No. They’re not hunting ear canals. If one ever ends up near your ear, it’s by accident—like any other confused bug at night.
Lie: Those pincers are for stabbing you.
Fact: Think “back-off tongs,” not scalpels. They use them to posture, fold wings, and flirt. You might feel a pinch if you grab one. That’s on you.
Lie: They ruin gardens.
Fact: “It depends.” In drought or heavy populations, they’ll sample tender seedlings and fruit. In balanced yards, they help with cleanup and pest control. Context is everything.
Simple Garden Tweaks
Dry the vibe: Earwigs are moisture groupies. Fix leaky spigots and gutters, water in the morning, and pull mulch back 6–12" from the house.
Light smarter: Night lights attract nightlife. Swap bright white bulbs for warm-toned LEDs and keep entry lights motion-based.
Low-tox traps: Bury a shallow container so the rim is soil-level; add ~½" vegetable oil + a splash of soy sauce (the aroma is the bait). Check in the morning, empty, reset.
If you remember one thing: earwigs aren’t plotting against your ears. They’re opportunists chasing moisture and midnight snacks. Tidy the habitat, tune down the fear, and let the ecosystem do its job.
P.S. Earwigs aren’t what the myths say—and neither is AI. Get the facts in 3 minutes with Superhuman AI:
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Until next week,
Gabi & Bea