Labidura riparia

(Pallas, 1773)

shore earwig, tawny earwig, striped earwig, riparian earwig

Labidura riparia is a found primarily in tropical to subtropical regions. It exhibits complex with maternal care of and young. The species is a valued for biological pest control, with documented on , eggs, and pests including the Asian corn borer and . Males possess two functional penises but show a 90% preference for the right penis during copulation, a behavioral asymmetry unique among earwigs.

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Pronunciation

How to pronounce Labidura riparia: //læˈbɪdjʊrə rɪˈpeɪriə//

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Identification

Light tan body with two dark longitudinal stripes on the , giving the "." Body length ranges from 16–30 mm with 10 abdominal . Males have large, strongly curved cercal ; females have smaller, straighter forceps with only slight curvature. Modified function as forceps. Distinguished from the Labidura riparia japonica (restricted to Japan, India to Papua New Guinea) by geographic range.

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Habitat

Dark, moist environments with shelter for daytime hiding. Found in diverse including cultivated and uncultivated farmlands, woodlands, and margins of ponds and lakes. Occupies abandoned burrows for nests to conserve energy.

Distribution

distribution primarily in tropical to subtropical regions. Records from Azores (Faial, Graciosa, São Miguel, Terceira), Baja California, and documented in Louisiana, Egypt, and across Asia.

Seasonality

activity with hunting primarily just after sunset. Two to three per year in temperate regions, with the last generation hibernating underground through winter. live 2–3 months.

Diet

feeding exclusively on and scavenged meat. Preference for and insect . includes larger insects killed and immobilized using long, powerful . Documented on Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis) and . of and eggs occurs when food is scarce.

Life Cycle

Six before adulthood. Females lay 60–100 in nests dug under rocks or tree bark. Maternal care includes cleaning eggs of and dirt, guarding for 10 days until hatching, then feeding and young for 2–5 days until they leave the nest. Females may produce up to three , sometimes simultaneously. dig individual molting nests, taking 4–50 days between instars.

Behavior

Subsocial with complex maternal habits. Females become hostile to males in chambers. Nest recognition via individual-specific transferred to nest substratum; females cannot distinguish own from offspring but discriminate their own nests. occurs after disturbance to find new nests when waterlogged or destroyed. Orientation using moonlight leads to attraction to artificial light. Males court by antennal contact and mutual abdominal grasping with .

Ecological Role

contributing to of agricultural and forest pests. influenced by on , with reciprocal predation on ant eggs. Repugnatory glands secrete foul-smelling (described as decomposition-like) for predator deterrence.

Human Relevance

Regarded as efficient agent in agricultural settings. Used or encouraged for pest management against lepidopteran pests and . No documented negative economic impacts.

Similar Taxa

  • Labidura riparia japonica formerly misidentified as separate Labidura japonica; restricted to Japan, India to Papua New Guinea versus range of nominate subspecies
  • Forficula speciesOther lack paired dark pronotal stripes and show different ; have single penis versus two in

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