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Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Earwigs

Forficulidae

Click to enlarge.

Beginner

Scientific Name
Forficula auricularia

Identification
Eggs:

  • White or cream coloured.
  • Oval shaped.

Nymphs:

  • Elongate.
  • 0.5–2.5 cm.
  • Ranging from light red-brown to black in colour.
  • Pair of forceps-like pincers (cerci) on their abdomen.
  • Broad head with a distinct y-shaped joint.
  • 11-segmented abdomen.

Adults:

  • Similar in appearance to nymphs.
  • Short, leathery, veinless forewings.
  • Large, membranous, semicircular hind wings that are folded fan-like beneath the forewings,
  • Seldom take flight.
  • Some species are wingless.

Often Confused With

  • Rove beetles (another beneficial insect) – Earwigs have pincer-like cerci, while rove beetles do not.

Interaction with Host
Earwigs actively hunt for food and are omnivorous, eating arthropods, plants, and ripe fruit. To a large extent, this species is also a scavenger, feeding on decaying plant and animal matter including garbage if given the chance.  Earwigs feed on several species of aphids on apple, including the green apple aphid, the woolly apple aphid, and on phytophagous mites and caterpillar. They also feed on aphid honeydew, as well as on the sooty moulds that grow on the honeydew. Feeding on apple flowers, leaves and fruit may also occur. 

Period of Activity
April-September, with one generation per year.

Insects Attacked
Earwigs are generalist predators feeding on aphids and other insects

Monitoring and Management
Earwigs usually like damp habitats and conceal themselves during the day under debris, stones, and logs or in blossoms and rolled or curled leaves.

Advanced

Scientific Name
Forficula auricularia

Identification
Eggs: White or cream coloured and oval shaped.

Nymphs: Earwigs are elongate insects (0.5–2.5 cm) ranging from light red-brown to black in colour.  Earwigs have a pair of forceps-like pincers (cerci) on their abdomen.   In males, the pincers are large, curved and bear teeth, but in females they are shorter and straighter in form. These pincers are used to capture prey, defend themselves and fold their wings.  Earwigs have a broad head with a distinct y-shaped joint and an 11-segmented abdomen.

Adults: Earwigs are elongate insects (0.5–2.5 cm) with short, leathery, veinless forewings and large, membranous, semicircular hind wings that are folded fan-like beneath the forewings. Although the hind wings are functional, earwigs seldom take flight, and some species are wingless. Earwigs have a broad head with a distinct y-shaped joint and an 11-segmented abdomen.

Often confused with

  • Rove beetles (another beneficial insect) – Earwigs have pincer-like cerci, while rove beetles do not.

Interaction with Host
Earwigs actively hunt for food and are omnivorous, eating arthropods, plants, and ripe fruit. To a large extent, this species is also a scavenger, feeding on decaying plant and animal matter including garbage if given the chance.  Earwigs feed on several species of aphids on apple, including the green apple aphid, the woolly apple aphid, and on phytophagous mites and caterpillar. They also feed on aphid honeydew, as well as on the sooty moulds that grow on the honeydew. Feeding on apple flowers, leaves and fruit may also occur. 

Earwigs live for about a year, completing their life cycle, starting from the egg. Females mate in the fall. They overwinter as adults, and eggs hatch in the spring.  Some parental care is exercised over the eggs and young larvae in nests in the soil before dispersal occurs around July. After five to six instars, the nymphs will molt into adults.

Period of Activity
April-September, with one generation per year.

Insects Attacked
Earwigs are generalist predators feeding on aphids and other insects.

Monitoring and Management
Earwigs usually like damp habitats and conceal themselves during the day under debris, stones, logs or in blossoms and rolled or curled leaves.