While it’s possible that earwig bugs could wander into someone’s ear canal, stories about these creatures seeking out the human ear and burrowing inside are simply urban legends.Earwigs are distinctive looking, with long black bodies and large pincers protruding from their abdomen. They are relatively harmless, but may try to pinch if picked up. This is purely a natural defense mechanism used to ward off opponents and predators, and has nothing to do with any inherent malice toward man. It’s unlikely that they’d be able to successfully grab any skin, anyway, given the size difference between earwig bugs and humans.