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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Earwigs (Dermaptera)
Photo#190559
Earwig
Copyright © 2008 John F. Carr

Earwig
Burlington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
June 13, 2008
Size: 10mm
The black at top is an ant dragging the earwig(?) up a rock by its head. The prey was not entirely cooperative.

I am very impressed with these ants. One that may be from the same colony was carrying a caterpillar four times its own length recently.
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Contributed by John F. Carr on 13 June, 2008 - 9:18pm
Last updated 24 June, 2008 - 9:06pm

Labidura riparia?
not sure; an extremely variable sp.; size could help, too
… v belov, 13 June, 2008 - 11:52pm login or register to post comments

 
Out of range
Marshall says family Labiduridae is not found north of North Carolina.

There seem to be about five species to choose from in Massachusetts, the most common being Forficula auricularia (European Earwig).
… John F. Carr, 15 June, 2008 - 3:55pm login or register to post comments

 
Size
I added size -- 10mm -- to the description.
… John F. Carr, 15 June, 2008 - 3:45pm login or register to post comments

 
Immature.
The earwig is immature, so it may be difficult to get a conclusive ID. The shape of the forceps may change somewhat as the insect matures. Great behavior shot in any event.
… Eric R. Eaton, 14 June, 2008 - 12:42pm login or register to post comments

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