Animal field guide
Earwig
Dermaptera
Earwigs are flattened nocturnal insects recognized by forceps-like cerci at the tip of the abdomen and short leathery forewings.
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Animal · Native range keys: north_america · Relatively common
Known for: Forceps-like cerci (pincers), Flattened elongated body, Short leathery forewings, Nocturnal crevice sheltering
Understand the animal
Understand the Earwig
Factual biology first: what this animal is like, where it lives, how it survives, and why those traits exist.
Introduction to Earwig
Why?Earwigs are flattened nocturnal insects recognized by forceps-like cerci at the tip of the abdomen and short leathery forewings.
How to identify a Earwig
- Forceps-like cerci (pincers)
- Flattened elongated body
- Short leathery forewings
- Nocturnal crevice sheltering
Why Earwig are interesting
- Many species, including the common European earwig, guard eggs and tend nymphs.
- Despite folklore, earwigs do not crawl into human ears as a habit.
- Cerci are used for defense, sensing, and sometimes courtship rather than just pinching.
Adaptations and biological abilities
Why?- Forceps-like cerci (pincers)
- Flattened elongated body
- Short leathery forewings
- Nocturnal crevice sheltering
Why does Earwig behave this way?
Why?- Forceps-like cerci (pincers)
- Flattened elongated body
- Short leathery forewings
- Nocturnal crevice sheltering
Mostly nocturnal; hides in dark damp shelters during the day.
Why Native range keys: north_america?
Why?Habitat: Native range keys: north_america, south_america, europe, sub_saharan_africa, south_asia, southeast_asia, east_asia, australia_oceania. Gardens, leaf litter, compost, under bark and pots, damp crevices, and other sheltered ground-level spaces worldwide.
Native range: Native range keys: north_america, south_america, europe, sub_saharan_africa, south_asia, southeast_asia, east_asia, australia_oceania. Gardens, leaf litter, compost, under bark and pots, damp crevices, and other sheltered ground-level spaces worldwide.
Native range
Natural range, not this specific capture location.
Native range keys: north_america, south_america, europe, sub_saharan_africa, south_asia, southeast_asia, east_asia, australia_oceania. Gardens, leaf litter, compost, under bark and pots, damp crevices, and other sheltered ground-level spaces worldwide.
Why this diet?
Why?Omnivorous: decaying plant matter, soft plant tissues, aphids and other small invertebrates, depending on species and opportunity.
Activity, rest, and lifespan
Why?Mostly nocturnal; hides in dark damp shelters during the day.
Often about one year in temperate common species, with eggs and nymphs spending months under maternal care.
Earwig reproduction
Why?Females of many species brood eggs and stay with early nymphs, cleaning and defending the nest.
Males and females can differ in forceps shape and curvature; males often have more strongly curved cerci.
Predators, threats, and defense
Why?Birds, amphibians, spiders, larger insects, and small mammals may prey on earwigs.
Conservation and rarity
Why?Rarity: Relatively common · 7/100. AnimalDex canonical rarity score: 7/100, maintained by the live indexed species profile.
- Observe from a respectful distance and avoid changing the animal's behavior.
- Do not block feeding, shelter, nesting, or travel routes.
- Use a live camera capture without handling or staging wildlife.
Ask AnimalDex
Ask AnimalDex about the Earwig
Ask about its biology, behavior, abilities, survival strategy, symbolism, or what its strategy can teach you. Answers stay grounded in this species page.
Anonymous: 3/day. Signed-in: 10/day. Pro: 30/day fair use.
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Compare the Earwig
Where to find them
Where to find Earwig
To find Earwig in the wild, focus on the exact habitat patches that match its body design and daily behavior, not just the broad country where it exists. You usually do better by working one good piece of habitat inside native range keys: north_america, south_america, europe, sub_saharan_africa, south_asia, southeast_asia, east_asia, australia_oceania. Gardens, leaf litter, compost, under bark and pots, damp crevices, and other sheltered ground-level spaces worldwide. than by covering too much ground.
- Headlands, reef edges, island colonies, tidal channels, or productive coastal water
- Protected habitat blocks within native range keys: north_america, south_america, europe, sub_saharan_africa, south_asia, southeast_asia, east_asia, australia_oceania. Gardens, leaf litter, compost, under bark and pots, damp crevices, and other sheltered ground-level spaces worldwide.
Animal field guide
Earwig
Earwigs are flattened nocturnal insects recognized by forceps-like cerci at the tip of the abdomen and short leathery forewings.
No captures yet
Native range
Natural range, not this capture location
Native range keys: north_america, south_america, europe, sub_saharan_africa, south_asia, southeast_asia, east_asia, australia_oceania. Gardens, leaf litter, compost, under bark and pots, damp crevices, and other sheltered ground-level spaces worldwide.
Search near meAnimalDex stats
Dominance
9
Speed
37
Size
4
Intelligence
14
Rarity
7%
Total
71
Size scale
Scientific name
Dermaptera
Category
Animal
Habitat
Native range keys: north_america, south_america, europe, sub_saharan_africa, south_asia, southeast_asia, east_asia, australia_oceania. Gardens, leaf litter, compost, under bark and pots, damp crevices, and other sheltered ground-level spaces worldwide.
Rarity
Relatively common · 7/100
Native range
Native range keys: north_america, south_america, europe, sub_saharan_africa, south_asia, southeast_asia, east_asia, australia_oceania. Gardens, leaf litter, compost, under bark and pots, damp crevices, and other sheltered ground-level spaces worldwide.
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