Forficula auricularia

Common earwig ( Forficula auricularia )

The common earwig ( Forficula auricularia ) is a catchy tune from the family of authentics earwigs ( Forficulidae ). Regionally there are numerous different colloquial name for the species or the whole order of earwigs.

Features

The Commons earwigs reach a body length of 10 to 16mm. They have a dark reddish brown body, in which the thorax is laterally light brown. The wings are reduced to short stubs, so that the animals ( almost) have become flightless. The elytra and the legs are light yellow brown. The hind wings are of the short elytra not quite covered and left something out, the majority of the abdomen is uncovered. Their antennae are 15 - membered. At the end of the abdomen they wear a pair of pliers, which are colored dark brown at the base and lighter towards the tip. This Cerci they use for defense to grab prey and to aid in the unfolding of their wings. The males also use them during mating. The males have at the base broad and flat Cerci that are slightly curved. At the end of the flat part, one or two small teeth on the inside can be seen. The females have short, finer and just Cerci.

Occurrence

They came originally only in Europe, but in the early 20th century was introduced into North America and now widely used there. They are found almost everywhere they find suitable hiding places, such as among foliage, between all possible cracks and crevices and on plants. They are often found in and around homes.

Way of life

The nocturnal animals can fly, but do so very rarely. They feed omnivorous both plant as well as animal food. They eat plant parts, fruits and seeds, other arthropods and detritus. Although, for example, can cause to crops and other plant damage, they are considered useful because they eat a wide variety of insect pests, such as aphids and their eggs. Since 2007, the Common earwig developed a problem pest in ripening grapes and peaches and thus reaches large numbers into crop. There are no control options.

Development

The females lay about 50 to 90, about 1.5 mm long eggs, both in the spring, when applied in underground in the autumn ground nests. The female remains in a dormancy -like state in the nest until the larvae have hatched. At the spring generation even brood care is operated, the female cared for his descendants throughout their entire one-month development. The larvae molt at this time four to five times. They are similar to adult animals, but lighter in color and have no wings. Hibernation takes place in the adult stage in protected hiding places such as under bark, in crevices, under leaves and between pieces of wood.