Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 321

The European earwig, Forficula auricularia, is a brownish-colored insect with an elongated flattened body, shield-shaped pronotum, and forcep-like cerci. They are about 12-15 mm long. Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, they were accidentally introduced to North America and New Zealand. The species is polymorphic, with males varying in body weight, head width, and cerci length and width. European earwigs are primarily active at night and feed on a variety of food, including plant matter and small insects. They prefer cool, moist habitats and can cause significant damage to crops and fruit orchards. Control measures include the use of natural enemies, such as parasitoid flies and fungi, as well as insecticides. The earwig is a natural predator of other agricultural pests and can be beneficial in pest management.