Earwig
Encyclopedia : E : EA : EAR : Earwig
Earwig is the common name given to the insect order Dermaptera characterized by membranous wings folded underneath short leathery forewings (hence the literal name of the order - "skin wings"). The abdomen extends well beyond the wings, and frequently, though not always, ends in a pair of forceps-like cerci. With about 1,800 recorded species in 10 families, the order is relatively small among Insecta. Earwigs are, however, quite common globally. There is no evidence that they transmit disease or otherwise harm humans or other animals, despite their nick-name, Pincher bug.
Etymology
The name "earwig" is generally said to originate from an old European belief that earwigs crawl into people's ears and lay eggs in the brain. This etymology is given by the Oxford English Dictionary, which states unequivocally that the name is derived from Old English éare, "ear", and wicga, "insect", "from the notion that it penetrates into the head through the ear." Earwigs do tend to prefer being in hidden places, and this etymology parallels the unambiguous French name perce-oreille ("ear piercer"). Another hypothesis is that the word comes from the Late Latin auricula, owing to the ancient use of pulverized earwigs as medicine to treat diseases of the ear. A third explanation is that it is an alteration of "ear-wing", after the shape of the hind wings when unfolded.
Physiology
Most earwigs are elongate, flattened, and are dark brown. Lengths are mostly in the 10-14 mm range, with one species of St Helena reaching 80 mm. Cerci range from nonexistent to long arcs up to 1/3 as long as the rest of the body. As in other orthopteroid insects, mouthparts are adapted for chewing. When earwigs have wings (are not agnathous), the hindwings are folded in a complex fashion, so that they fit under the forewings. Earwigs rarely fly.
The abdomen of the earwig is flexible and muscular. It is capable of maneuvering as well as opening and closing of the forceps. The forceps are used for a variety of purposes. In some species, the forceps have also been observed in use for holding prey, and in copulation. The forceps tend to be more curved in males than in females.
Most earwigs found in Europe and North America are Forficula auricularia, the European earwig, which is distributed throughout the cooler parts of the northern hemisphere. They feed on other insects, plants, ripe fruit, and garbage. Plants they feed on typically include clover, dahlias, zinnias, butterfly bush, hollyhock, lettuce, strawberry, celery, plums, potatoes, roses, seedling beans and beets, and tender grass shoots and roots; they have also been known to eat corn silk, damaging the corn. Typically they are a nuisance because of their diet, but normally do not present serious hazards to crops. Some tropical species are brightly colored. Occasionally earwigs are confused with cockroaches because of the points on the end, the long antennae, and being most active at night.
Earwigs are also drawn to damp conditions and during the summer in countries which inhabit them they can be found around sinks, and in bathrooms.
References
- http://bugs.bio.usyd.edu.au/Entomology/externalmorphology/imagepages/cerci.html
- http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/veg/european_earwig.htm
- http://www.bartleby.com/65/ea/earwig.html
- http://www.cascadepest.com/pest.htm#earwigs
- http://www.islington.gov.uk/DownloadableDocuments/Environment/Pdf/pestearwig.pdf
External links
- [Tree of Life info for Dermaptera]
- [CSIRO Dermaptera page]
- ["Earwigs eat through your brain" urban legend debunked]
- St. Helena Earwig
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