Forficulidae

Latreille, 1810

common earwigs

Genus Guides

2

is a large of earwigs containing over 70 and more than 500 described . Members possess the characteristic forceps-like at the tip that define the order Dermaptera. The family includes notable species such as the European earwig (Forficula auricularia), which has been introduced globally and studied extensively for its agricultural impacts. Forficulidae was formerly treated as a suborder () but is now classified within the suborder Neodermaptera.

Doru by (c) Diogo Luiz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Diogo Luiz. Used under a CC-BY license.Doru by (c) Mark Richman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mark Richman. Used under a CC-BY license.Forficula auricularia by (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Forficulidae: //fɔrˈfɪkjʊlɪˌdiː//

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Distribution

Worldwide distribution with records from China (South-central, Southeast, Tibet), Colombia, Denmark, and numerous other regions. Specific distribution varies by and .

Human Relevance

The European earwig (Forficula auricularia) has been identified as a potential pest in citrus groves in California and Europe, where it feeds on young, emerging fruits causing scarring. It has been present in the United States for over a century, thriving in all but the far southeastern states. The has been noted as both a pest and a beneficial insect, feeding on crops as well as on aphids.

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