Common earwig

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Common earwig
Common earwig (Forficula auricularia)

Common earwig ( Forficula auricularia )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Earwigs (Dermaptera)
Family : Real earwigs (Forficulidae)
Genre : Forficula
Type : Common earwig
Scientific name
Forficula auricularia
Linnaeus , 1758
Male and female specimens with unfolded and folded hind wings
Stages of development of the common earwig

The Common earwig ( Forficula auricularia ) is a catchy tune from the family of authentics earwigs (Forficulidae). Regionally, there are numerous different slang names such as ear pince-nez for the species or the whole order of the earwigs.

features

The common earwigs reach a body length of 10 to 16 millimeters. They have a dark reddish brown body with the thorax being light brown on the sides. The wings are reduced to short stumps, so that the animals have become (almost) unable to fly. The wings and legs are colored light yellow-brown. The hind wings are not completely covered by the short cover wings and protrude somewhat; the majority of the abdomen is uncovered. Their antennae are 15 units. At the end of the abdomen they have a pair of pincers that are lighter at the base and dark brown towards the tip. They use these cerci for defense, to grab prey, and to help develop their wings. The males also use them when mating. The males have broad and flat cerci at the base that are slightly curved. At the end of the flat part, one or two small teeth can be seen on the inside. The females have short, finer and straight cerci.

Occurrence

Originally only found in Europe , they were introduced into North America in the early 20th century and are now widespread there. You can find them almost everywhere where they can find suitable hiding places, such as B. under leaves, in cracks and crevices.

Way of life

The nocturnal animals can fly, but do so very rarely. They feed omnivorously on both plant and animal foods. They eat parts of plants, fruits and seeds, other articulated animals and detritus . Although they damage z. B. cause on cereals and other plants, they are considered useful as they can cause a variety of different insect pests such. B. eat aphids and their eggs. Since 2007, the catchy tune has been developing into a problem pest in ripening grapes and peaches and is thus getting into the harvest in larger numbers. So far there are no ways to control it.

development

The females lay eggs about 50 to 90, about 1.5 millimeters long, both in spring and in autumn in underground nests. The female remains in a state similar to dormancy in the nest until the larvae hatch. In the spring generation, brood care is even carried out; the female looks after her offspring throughout their one-month development. The larvae molt four to five times during this time. They are similar to the adult animals, but are lighter in color and have no wings. The wintering takes place in the adult stage in protected hiding places, such as B. under bark, in crevices, under leaves and between pieces of wood.

photos

  • Hatching larvae

  • Young larva

  • Nursery

  • Older larva

  • Male with small pincers

  • Male with large pincers

  • eats yarrow

  • Female, dorsal view

literature

  • Anneliese Strenger: A contribution to the biology of Forficula auricularia. In: Austrian Zoological Journal. 2, Linz 1950, pp. 624-638 ( PDF on ZOBODAT ).

Web links

Commons : Common earwig  - album with pictures, videos and audio files