Pygidicranidae

Definition

A family of earwigs (order Dermaptera, suborder Neodermaptera) characterized by small, flattened bodies densely covered with bristly setae, symmetrical cerci, broad heads with non-transverse fourth through sixth antennomeres, and equally sized ventral cervical sclerites with the rearmost sclerite separated from or only touching the center of the prosternum. Members lack ocelli, as is typical for Neodermaptera. The family comprises twelve subfamilies and twenty-six genera, including eight monotypic subfamilies; two subfamilies (Astreptolabidinae and Burmapygiinae) are extinct and known only from Burmese amber. Living species occur in Australia, South Africa, North America, and Asia, with the monotypic genus Anataelia restricted to the Canary Islands.

Etymology

Example

Challia hongkongensis, a pygidicranid from Hong Kong, exhibits omnivorous feeding behavior including possible fruit or seed consumption, and has been documented practicing cannibalism when an adult female was observed consuming a living conspecific nymph.

Related Terms

• Dermaptera
• Neodermaptera
• earwig
• cercus
• antennomere
• cervical sclerite
• Prosternum
• ocellus
• Burmese amber

Usage Notes

Pygidicranidae represents one of the more diverse families within the speciose suborder Neodermaptera, yet it remains relatively understudied compared to the cosmopolitan family Forficulidae. The family's fossil record in Burmese amber documents significant Cretaceous diversity now extinct. The symmetrical cerci distinguish pygidicranids from many forficulid earwigs, which often possess strongly asymmetrical, forceps-like cerci in males. The family's disjunct modern distribution (southern Africa, Australia, North America, Asia, Canary Islands) suggests a relictual Gondwanan biogeographic history, though this hypothesis requires further phylogenetic testing.