An old myth holds that an Euborellia annulipes or earwig will crawl into a person's ear and make its way through the eardrum. After it gets through the eardrum it is said to actually start eating the brain. Following which, the person goes mad! That myth is the basis for the common name of earwig.

Earwigs are easy to identify by the pincers or forceps on the end of the abdomen. On females the pincers are fairly straight, while male pincers are more curved and caliper-like. These pincers are used as both offensive and defensive weapons. Though they may try to pinch if bothered they do not harm people. The common earwig is about 5/8 inch long and dark brown with a reddish head and pale yellow-brown legs. Earwigs are outdoor insects that are usually found in damp areas, such as under mulch, dead leaves, logs, and piles of firewood, boards, stones and other debris or in rotted wood where they feed on moist, decaying plant material.