Facts about earwigs
• Parental care. Unlike most insects, female earwigs exhibit maternal care, guarding their eggs and young from predators and disease. This behavior is rare among insects and highlights the complexity of earwig social structure.
• Misconceptions. The name “earwig” comes from an old European myth that these insects crawl into people’s ears and burrow into their brains. There is no truth to this tale; earwigs are harmless to humans (though they can deliver a nasty pinch). Entomologists believe the name refers to the outstretched wing, which looks like an ear.
• Diversity. There are over 2,000 species of earwigs around the world, adapted to a variety of habitats. They vary significantly in size, colour and behavior, demonstrating the incredible diversity of this insect group.
• Diet and habitat. Earwigs are omnivorous and will eat both plant and animal matter. They play a vital role in the ecosystem by consuming decaying vegetation and a variety of pests. Earwigs prefer dark, moist environments and are often found under rocks, logs, or in soil.
• Communication. Earwigs use their cerci not only for defense and mating but also for communication. The shape and size of the cerci vary between species and can be a key identifier in earwig taxonomy. In males, they tend to be curved inward; in females, they tend to be straighter.
• What is an earwig? Earwigs make of an entire Order of insects, known as Dermaptera. There are about 25 species found in North America, though they were not found on this continent before the early 1800s. The one you encounter most of the time is the European common earwig (Forficula auricularia).