A familiar and abundant insect, often found resting and/or nibling on flowers. They are much the commonest European earwig and the only species seen regularly in Britain. This particular specimen was captured in Porthkerry Park, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. They occur in a variety of habitats, wherever there is food and shelter. The young are like miniature adults, and the female guards them until they disperse.

They can be describes as a shiny brown cylindrical insect. Although they appear to be virtually wingless, the hindwings are actually partly concealed under the modified front wings. Males have pincer-like claspers. They eat various types of plant material.