Earwig

Forficula auricularia

Despite their fearsome appearance, earwigs are actually beneficial garden creatures that shelter in flower heads like dahlias and chrysanthemums during hot days. They’re nocturnal hunters, emerging at night to feed on aphids, mites, and other small pests that damage plants. The pincers (cerci) are used for defense and courtship, not for attacking humans. Female earwigs are devoted mothers, one of the few insects that actively care for their young, cleaning and protecting eggs and nymphs. They’re also partial to flower petals, which is why they’re sometimes found inside blooms.