European Earwig – Forficula auricularia

European Earwigs   Latin Name: Forficula auricularia Common Name: Earwigs, European earwigs, Common earwig Appearance: European earwigs are 12-24 mm long insects belonging to the family Forficulidae. They have a pair of characteristic appendages that look like forceps at the end of the abdomen called cerci. They have a reddish-brown head and cerci, while the abdomen is dark brown and yellow legs. They use cerci in their defense and bend over like a scorpion during an alarming situation. These cerci are more curved in males as compared to females. They have long hindwings folded under a hard wing cover (Forewing) but fly very rarely. They have chewing-type mouthparts and 14 segmented antennae. Host Plants or Food: Earwigs prey on plant pests such as Aphids, Mites, Scales, Caterpillar, etc. They also feed on organic matter and least on the plant, which is almost of no concern. Territory: Europe (Native), North America, Western Asia, North Africa, Australia. Mode of Damage: Beneficial Garden Insect. They prey on plant pests and seldom damage plants causing no economic loss. Habits and Life History: European earwigs don’t like heat and dryness, so they usually live in cool and dark places during the day and come out at night. They mostly hide themselves under debris, leaves, rocks, and tree bark. Female earwigs lay eggs in winter into the funnel they dig in the ground. They lay 30 or more eggs. Eggs of earwigs are white or cream-colored and oval-shaped. Just before hatching, eggs become brown and kidney-shaped. Eggs hatch in 70 days into nymphs that are light brown and remain there in eggs till first molting and fed by their mother. The second instar may come out during the night, feed, and return back to the nest during the day. Later, instars feed freely on their own. They undergo almost 4 moltings before maturing into an adult European earwig. They have only one generation per year.