Q: I found an earwig in my clothing. How big a risk is it that this would have gone into my ear and then into my brain? A: Earwigs are pretty ubiquitous, being found all over the world ...

An earwig would much prefer the cool underside of a log or a cardboard box in your garage to the hot, cramped dead-end that is the human ear canal. And what would an earwig want inside a brain anyway?

The name earwig is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for "ear creature," thanks to the superstition that the insects crawl into people's ears while asleep, according to Britannica.

Earwigs are also nocturnal and in the insect world qualify as "semi social" because they like to hang out in family groups. Flip over a chunk of wet firewood and you'll likely see not one, but many.

The plugs prevent earwigs from entering her ears and reduce the sound of my snoring. For the record, both of these reasons are myths. Advertisement. Article continues below this ad.

If you want to prevent these pincher bugs from invading your space, check out these easy ways to get rid of earwigs.

If you do much gardening, odds are you’ve heard of diatomaceous earth, which is used to kill numerous pests with exoskeletons — such as earwigs, fleas, ticks, spiders and more, according to ...

They were earwigs. Sefton, who works 12-hour shifts as a physician assistant, said she’s never seen so many earwigs in the years she’s been gardening.