Insect

Ring-legged Earwig

Euborellia annulipes

Low Risk

Biology

Euborellia annulipes is a wingless dark brown earwig 12–16 mm long with distinctive pale bands on the legs and short curved forceps. Females guard eggs and early nymphs in soil chambers.

Behaviour

It is nocturnal and moisture-dependent, sheltering by day under mulch, stones, boards, and pot rims. It is omnivorous, feeding on decaying plant matter, seedlings, and small insects, and will scavenge indoors.

Habits

Indoor sightings follow heavy rain or drought as earwigs migrate toward damp slab edges, garages, and bathrooms. They enter through door sweeps, weep holes, and utility penetrations near heavy mulch.

Control methods

1Pull mulch and ground cover back 15 cm from the foundation
2Correct drainage and fix leaking spigots and irrigation heads
3Install tight door sweeps and screen weep holes
4Remove boards, stones, and debris that hold moisture
5Switch outdoor lighting to warm low-attraction LEDs
6Apply a labelled perimeter treatment at the slab edge

Tailored to Ring-legged Earwig

IPM Procedure Checklist

View full procedure

Step 1

Inspection

Inspect harborage near food, water and warmth
Check cracks, voids and appliance interiors
Place sticky monitors at suspected hot-spots

Step 2

Identification

Confirm Ring-legged Earwig (Euborellia annulipes) — not a look-alike
Note life stage and risk level: Low
Capture clear photos and samples for the record

Step 3

Action Thresholds

Tolerate low-level activity outside sensitive zones
Act if activity moves indoors or near food
Review threshold seasonally with the client

Step 4

Prevention

Seal cracks, plumbing penetrations and wall voids
Eliminate moisture sources and standing water
Improve sanitation: sealed food storage, grease removal

Step 5

Control Methods

Pull mulch and ground cover back 15 cm from the foundation
Correct drainage and fix leaking spigots and irrigation heads
Install tight door sweeps and screen weep holes
Remove boards, stones, and debris that hold moisture

Step 6

Monitoring & Evaluation

Service monitors on schedule and trend captures
Re-inspect for Ring-legged Earwig activity at follow-up
Adjust tactics based on data; report findings to client