Species Forficula auricularia - European Earwig

Classification · Size · Identification · Remarks · Internet References

European Earwig Mother With Eggs - Forficula auricularia - female

European earwig? - Forficula auricularia - male

a different earwig - Forficula auricularia

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Dermaptera (Earwigs)

Family Forficulidae

Genus Forficula

Species auricularia ( European Earwig)

Size

body length 12 to 15 mm

Identification

Male forceps 4 to 8 mm (Figs. 1-2); female forceps 3 mm, tegmina 2 mm. Male forceps vary from about half as long to longer than the abdomen, broadened basally, with crenulate teeth basally and on beginning of curvature of inner margin. Antennae have 14 or 15 segments. The adult is rich reddish-brown, with wing covers and legs dull yellow brown, and the wings completely developed. Males are readily distinguished from other North American species of earwigs by their distinctive forceps.

Male (below left), Female (below right):

Remarks

Introduced from Europe, probably in the early 1900's.

Internet References

University of Florida

Contributed by tom murray on 5 July, 2005 - 8:27pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Beatriz Moisset
Last updated 4 July, 2006 - 8:39pm

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