Can earwigs fly?

Earwigs which fly usually fly in short bursts. If there is abundant food and shelter, as well as available mates, there is little reason in flying for the earwig. Rather than flying, common domestic earwigs prefer the moist, wet soil areas with an abundance of live or decaying vegetation as cover and food. read more

Despite appearing wingless, most of the over 1,800 species of earwigs have wings. European earwigs, the most common type in New England, are winged and possess the ability for limited flight. Flight is common in male earwigs while females rarely fly. read more

Although common earwigs like the European earwig and ring-legged earwig rarely fly, there is a less common group of earwigs that has picked up the habit. They belong to the family Labiidae. This group contains eight different species that are found in North America. Although none are commonly encountered, when they do infest a home, they can form large ranks. read more