Order of insects, which are usually beneficial insects in viticulture. The common earworm (Forficula auricularia) is considered an omnivore that feeds on both plant and animal food. Its development proceeds via a whitish, oval egg through four to five larval stages to the reproductive animals. The male becomes 10 to 16, the female 9 to 14 millimetres large. The maroon animals are armoured and have strong pincers at the end of the body, which are used to grasp the prey and to grasp the female's backside during mating. The hibernation takes place as an adult animal in the ground, in which about 60 eggs are laid by each female from winter to spring. Even after the larvae have hatched, they are still provided with food. The adult animals forage at night. Aphids and small caterpillars (e.g. owl caterpillars) are eaten. Earwigs are also involved in the decomposition of dead biomass