European Earwig
Forficula auricularia
This record describes Forficula auricularia (species). Recorded family: Forficulidae. Recorded order: Dermaptera.
Identification and Appearance
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Wikipedia reference for Forficula auricularia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forficula_auricularia.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Dermaptera (Earwigs)
- Family
- Forficulidae (Common Earwigs)
- Genus
- Forficula
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
About Earwigs: the wider group
Order-level background for Dermaptera, the group containing Forficula auricularia. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
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.
Ecological role of the group
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.
Economic and practical significance of the group
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.
Recorded sources for this group: Entomological research, University extension services. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of European Earwig (11)
Photo credits: no rights reserved. https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/404361513. Original downloaded bytes; proportional display only