Forficula auricularia: Difference between revisions
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The female earwig lays a clutch of about 50 [[egg (biology)|eggs]] in an underground nest in the autumn. She enters a dormant state and stays in the nest with the eggs. In the spring the young emerge from the eggs and she guards them until they reach maturity after about one month. |
The female earwig lays a clutch of about 50 [[egg (biology)|eggs]] in an underground nest in the autumn. She enters a dormant state and stays in the nest with the eggs. In the spring the young emerge from the eggs and she guards them until they reach maturity after about one month. |
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The male of the species has two identical, fully-functional and independently operable peni. [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7120/full/444689a.html] One gets eaten by the female.{{citation needed}} |
The male of the species has two identical, fully-functional and independently operable peni. [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7120/full/444689a.html] One gets eaten by the female, which is very similar to humans.{{citation needed}} |
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{{Commonscat|Forficula auricularia}} |
{{Commonscat|Forficula auricularia}} |
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Revision as of 14:06, 9 July 2008
| Forficula auricularia | |
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| Species: | F. auricularia
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| Forficula auricularia | |
Forficula auricularia, the Common earwig or European earwig, is an omnivorous insect in the family Forficulidae. Native to Europe, it was introduced to North America in the early twentieth century and is now present throughout much of the continent.
This earwig is about one centimeter long, shiny brown, with yellowish wings and legs. The cerci (pincers) of the male are thick and slightly curved; those of the female are straighter and less robust. The cerci are used during mating, feeding, and self-defense. The earwig has functional wings but rarely flies.
This insect is considered a pest of crops, although it does eat other pest insects and eggs as well as plant parts. Earwigs readily consume corn silk and can damage the crop. It wedges itself into enclosed spaces, and can be found resting in harvested produce and cut flowers.
The female earwig lays a clutch of about 50 eggs in an underground nest in the autumn. She enters a dormant state and stays in the nest with the eggs. In the spring the young emerge from the eggs and she guards them until they reach maturity after about one month.
The male of the species has two identical, fully-functional and independently operable peni. [1] One gets eaten by the female, which is very similar to humans.[citation needed]
References
- H. V. Weems, Jr. & Paul E. Skelley (1998). "European earwig - Forficula auricularia Linnaeus". University of Florida.
- Cranshaw, Whitney (2004). Garden Insects of North America. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-09561-2.
- Eisner, T. (1960). Defense Mechanisms of Arthropods. II. The Chemical and Mechanical Weapons of an Earwig. Psyche 67:62-70 PDF (Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license)