Earwigs

Definition

Members of the insect order Dermaptera, characterized by a pair of forceps-like cerci at the abdomen tip, short leathery forewings (tegmina) that cover long, membranous hindwings folded beneath, and chewing mouthparts. The approximately 2,000 described species occupy diverse habitats from soil litter to mammal nests; some are predatory, others omnivorous or parasitic.

Etymology

From Middle English 'erwigge,' possibly from Old English 'ēarwicga' (ear insect), folk etymology associating the insects with crawling into human ears.

Example

The common European earwig Forficula auricularia uses its cerci both defensively and in male-male combat, while the wingless marine earwig Anisolabis maritima occupies rocky intertidal zones.

Synonyms

• Dermaptera

Related Terms

• Cerci
• tegmina
• hemimetabolous
• Apterygote
• dermapteran

Usage Notes

The forceps-like cerci are diagnostic but variable: some parasitic groups (e.g., Arixeniidae, Hemimeridae) lack pincers and are obligate mammal ectoparasites. 'Earwig' properly refers to the order; 'dermapteran' is the adjectival form. The folk belief about ear entry is biologically unfounded.