Forficula dentata

Fabricius, 1775

Western earwig, European earwig

Forficula dentata is a of in the Forficulidae, first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. It was historically considered a synonym of but has been recognized as a distinct cryptic species within the F. auricularia . The species is widely distributed across Western Europe, the British Isles, and has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and western North America. It is frequently misidentified as F. auricularia or F. mediterranea due to morphological similarities.

Forficula dentata by (c) Borja Fierro, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Borja Fierro. Used under a CC-BY license.

Crías de tijereta "Forcícula detata" by Brandon Antonio Segura Torres & Priscilla Vieto Bonilla. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Retraro de cría de tijereta "Forcícula dentata" by Brandon Antonio Segura Torres & Priscilla Vieto Bonilla. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Forficula dentata: /fɔrˈfɪk.jʊ.lə dɛnˈtɑː.tə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Forficula dentata is a cryptic morphologically similar to and Forficula mediterranea, requiring careful examination to distinguish. Accurate identification typically depends on subtle differences in male genitalia and structure. It is often misidentified as F. auricularia in field observations. Distribution patterns can assist in identification: F. dentata occurs in the British Isles and parts of Western Europe, while F. mediterranea is restricted to Mediterranean regions.

Images

Distribution

Native range includes the British Isles and parts of Western Europe. Introduced established in Australia, New Zealand, Chile, the western United States, and Canada. Specific documented locations include Newfoundland (Canada), Belarusian Central Botanic Gardens (Belarus), and near Gimmingen (Germany).

Similar Taxa

Forficula auriculariaHistorically considered ; F. dentata was treated as a synonym until recognized as a distinct cryptic . Morphologically very similar, requiring examination of male genitalia for reliable separation.
Forficula mediterraneaAnother member of the F. auricularia with overlapping . F. mediterranea is restricted to Mediterranean regions, while F. dentata occurs in more northern and western European areas.

More Details

Taxonomic history

Originally described by Fabricius in 1775, Forficula dentata was long treated as a synonym of . It has since been reclassified as a valid based on evidence that it represents a distinct cryptic species within the F. auricularia .