14/05/2026
I can’t remember where I saw this originally but thought it was worth sharing 💚
The earwig under the plant pot is one of the most misjudged insects in any garden — and one of the most useful.
At night, while the garden is quiet, earwigs hunt aphids, spider mites, slug eggs, soil larvae, and decaying organic matter. A single earwig removes a significant number of aphids per night, working through the same pest colonies that would otherwise build unchecked on stems and leaf undersides.
What earwigs do not do: they do not go in ears. That is a medieval myth with no basis in reality. The pincers (cerci) at the rear are used for courtship and defence — not for attacking anything. They have wings but rarely use them.
How to read earwig behaviour in the garden:
A group clustered under a pot or flat stone is a hunting colony resting through the day. Leave them.
An earwig on ripe fruit is opportunistic. The overall balance remains positive.
An earwig on a cluster of small white eggs is a mother tending her brood — unusual behaviour among insects. Leave them undisturbed.
When to act: if populations are very high and soft new growth or flower petals are showing damage, a damp rolled newspaper left out overnight works as a simple trap. Earwigs shelter inside naturally and can be relocated in the morning.
The garden benefits from nocturnal predators. The earwig is one of the most effective available, and it costs nothing.
