Identification

• Earwigs are 1/4 inch to 1 inch long. They're brown to black and have a flattened body. Most species have a pair of membranous wings folded under a set of small, leathery forewings called elytra. The most-common and widely distributed earwig in North America is the European earwig (Forficula auricularia). It's easily recognized by a pair of pincerlike appendages, known as cerci, at the end of its body.
  
  

Habitat

• For protection from predators, these nocturnal insects spend the day in leaf litter, mulch and other plant debris. Females lay up to 50 eggs once or twice per season in the soil or in plant debris and mulch. Unlike most insects, female earwigs guard the eggs until the nymphs hatch and molt. Earwigs feed primarily on decaying plant matter, as well as some small insects. They also feed on soft plant parts including leaves, fruit and flower petals. They're considered pests in cultivated gardens.
  
  

Mulch

• Mulch helps prevent weed growth, but also is home to insect pests.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Mulch is a substance applied to the soil surrounding trees and other plants. It's usually made of organic materials such as wood or bark chips, grass clippings and compost, but can also be made from recycled materials including rubber tires. Mulch serves several purposes; it helps maintain soil moisture, prevent erosion, and minimize or eliminate weed growth. Unfortunately for gardeners, mulch is an excellent habitat for unwanted insects such as earwigs. This habitat protects the insects from predators and provides suitable conditions for breeding.
  
  

Solutions

• Rolled paper can trap earwigs.Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
  
  The moist, dark conditions of mulch are well-suited to earwigs, and an abundance of earwigs in mulch can be detrimental to nearby plants. To naturally trap earwigs and remove them, loosely roll up newspaper and place in the mulch. Leave overnight or for a few days. The earwigs will crawl into the paper layers. Shake the earwigs out of the newspaper in a wooded area or other place where they won't pose a problem to cultivated plants. Earwigs can also be trapped in shallow dishes of vegetable or fish oil and discarded.