Earwigs

Order Dermaptera

The Earwigs (Order Dermaptera) includes 34 species across 6 families and 10 genera in our directory.

About Earwigs

Dermaptera (earwigs) includes ~2,000 described species. Despite their fearsome-looking pincers (cerci), earwigs are harmless to humans. The name 'earwig' comes from the Old English 'earwicga' meaning 'ear creature' - an old superstition that they crawl into ears.

Economic Impact

Earwigs can be minor garden pests, feeding on seedlings and soft fruits, but they also consume large numbers of aphids and other pest insects, providing natural pest control.

Ecological Role

Earwigs are among the few insect orders where mothers actively care for their eggs and young - female earwigs guard their eggs, clean them to prevent mold, and protect nymphs until their second molt.

Families in Dermaptera (6)

Species in Dermaptera (34)

African Earwig

Euborellia cincticollis

Anisolabididae

Identification: There are mentions of winged E. annulipes in older literature (but no known specimen), likely based on misidentifications; annulipes is assumed to be always wingless. Images of wingless cincticollis can be hard to separate from annuli

Euborellia arcanum

Anisolabididae

Identification: from : E. peregrina & E. antoni are similar, but with pronotum widening posterad (also differs in male genitalia and forceps) Creates burrows and chambers in soil and emerges at night, retracting food into burrows for consumption. Fir

Lesser Earwig

Labia minor

Spongiphoridae

Identification: Small, pubescent all over the body & appendages, tan-colored, easily flying; female with forceps closed may look like a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) Male forceps symmetrical, with several small teeth internally: Female: Uses its forcep