This creepy bug with pincers on its butt scurried out from under my rug. It looks really menacing. Is it going to pinch me or my pets?

Earwigs often look scary because of their pincers, but they’re mostly harmless, shy insects that prefer dark, damp places. They don’t bite, don’t spread disease, and rarely pinch people.

If they get indoors, it’s usually just in search of moisture and shelter—not to cause harm. Keeping your home dry and sealing small cracks is usually enough to keep them out.

What seems frightening is often just a harmless visitor passing through.