Can earwigs fly?

Can earwigs fly? Yes, earwigs can fly, though they rarely do and are not strong fliers, and many people never see them fly because they prefer to crawl and hide in dark damp places. Earwigs have two pairs of wings, with short leathery forewings covering large membranous hindwings folded in complex fan-like manner underneath, which they unfold for flight. They are capable of flight but seldom use it, typically flying short distances at night, attracted to lights, and some species fly more readily than others. European earwig commonly found in homes can fly but rarely does, preferring to crawl. So earwigs can fly technically, but flight is uncommon and not their primary mode of movement, they mostly crawl and hide under mulch, rocks, and in cracks, and you will usually see them crawling, not flying, though they may fly toward lights at night.