Dermaptera+(Earwigs)

=**Common/European Earwig**= = =  Fig. 1: Adult male common earwig also known as the european earwig, // Forficula auricularia //

**Taxonomy**
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Athropoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Dermapter
 * Genus: // Forficula //
 * Species: //F.auricularia//

// Forficula auricularia, //more commonly known as the european earwig, is a predatory insect with omnivorous feeding habits. This species is native to Europe, western Asia, and northern African, but also has been introduced to North America, Australia, and New Zealand (1). The first siting in North America was in Seattle, Washington followed by Oregon, British Columbia, and California. It eventually reaching the east coast in locations such as Rhode Island, New York, and most other northern locations by 1930s and 1940s (2). // F.auricularia //is a part of the order Dermaptera, which consists of insects (earwigs) that are characterized by a flattened elongated body, heavily sclerotised princer-like cerci, 2 pairs of wings, mandibles, and moderately long antennae (3). They prefer temperate climates and are not very tolerant to arid environments, although present in areas of irrigational practices (2). On average adults measure to be 13-14mm in length disregarding their pinchers, with a head that is 2.2mm in width (2). Both females and males share a dark brown and reddish brown color dorsally along with lighter ventrally, and they have wings beneath their abbreviated forewings. They are capable of flight and when they participate in this behavior they descend from an object of higher altitude than the ground giving them lift. This nocturnal species lives in large areas and can live at elevations of up to 2,824m, and like to hide in moist dark sheltered environments hiding from predators during the day (6).
 * Description:**

Fig. 2: Earwigs hemimetaboulous life cycle from egg to adult
 * Life Cycle/Reproduction **

//F.auricularia// undergo hemimetabolous life cycle, or incomplete metamorphosis, meaning they go through three stages; egg, nymph, and adult (4). In Septemeber they burrow underground and use their pinchers to attract mates to copulate in late summer or autumn (6). They mate with their ends facing each other and grasping onto the others pinchers. Once the eggs are laid they are put in areas with optimal temperature and humidity, and taken care of regularly to prevent any growth of fungi (2). Their wings develop gradually with each molt along with the length of their antennae (5). The cerci becomes present in all instars in the nymph stage, and color alteration starts to become present changing to a darker brownish color from grayish (2). Earwigs can reproduce a generation annually and females will stand guard until the eggs hatch, but once the eggs hatch and offspring become adults they must colonize other areas to prevent death from their hungry mother (3).

Fig. 3: Female earwig guarding eggs in nest

Earwigs mainly are omnivorous and have a diet consisting primarily of plant matter along with dead insects and other organisms. Their cerci allow them to hold prey and carry them once killed (3).
 * Feeding **

//F.auricularia// are often known as crop pests invading crops such as burrowing into maturing fruit and feeding on plants such as potatoes, artichokes, bean seedlings, lettuce, corn, roses, stone fruits, strawberries, and zinnias at night time (7). They feed on insects such as aphids that reside in crops offsetting their reputation as pests, because they help to suppress the aphid population which is another pest of gardens (2).
 * Ecological Impacts**

1."European Earwig - Forficula Auricularia Linnaeus." //European Earwig - Forficula Auricularia Linnaeus //. University of Florida, n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.
 * References**

2. Capinera, John L. "European Earwig Forficula Auricularia Linnaeus (Insecta: Dermaptera: Forficulidae)." //EDIS //. University of Florida IFAS Extension, n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.

3. "Dermaptera - Earwigs." //Dermaptera - Earwigs //. CSIRO Insects and Allies, n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.

4. "Metamorphosis." //Metamorphosis //. Pacific Science Center, n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.

5."Species Forficula Auricularia - European Earwig." //Welcome to BugGuide.Net! - BugGuide.Net //. Iowa State University Entomology, n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.

6. Vincent, Morgan, and Katherine Kent. "Critter Catalog." //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">BioKIDS //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.

7.<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">"Pest: Earwigs." //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Pest: Earwigs – Vermont Organic Farm //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">. Cedar Circle Farms, n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">8. Fig. 1: Common earwig [Photograph]. Retrieved 1 November, 2013. < http://www.insectsofalberta.com/earwig_3.htm>.

9. Fig. 2: Earwig Life Cycle [Photopgraph]. Retrieved 1 Novermber, 2013. <www.wikipedia.com>.

10. Fig. 3: Female earwig guarding eggs in nest [Photograph]. Retrieved 1 November, 2013. <www.wikipedia.com>.

11. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Marshall, Stephen A. "Pg. 64." //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> Buffalo, NY: Firefly (U.S.), 2006. N. pag. Print.