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Earwig

Dermaptera

Description:

Many earwig species display maternal care, which is uncommon among insects. Female earwigs may care for their eggs, and even after they have hatched as nymphs will continue to watch over offspring until their second molt. As the nymphs molt, sexual dimorphism such as differences in pincer shapes begins to show.

Habitat:

Seems like she was packing her eggs in a corner. In my native tounge we call them "oorkruiper" wich means "ear crawler" in English. I dont know how true this is, but from a young age South Africans will keep clear of them.

1 Species ID Suggestions

hg_williams3
hg_williams3 11 years ago
Earwig
Forficula Earwig


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3 Comments

Smith'sZoo
Smith'sZoo 11 years ago

Hi hg williams, yes, that's the one. Thank you so much. It makes so much sense, she was packing the eggs so neatly in that corner. Wow, how much it changes my experience once I read up on it.

hg_williams3
hg_williams3 11 years ago

Its of the order Dermaptera its called an ear wig in english check that reference its a very under researched insect because of the myths about its ear crawling
but its actual egg laying behaviour is very interest and very maternal for an insect

Smith Zoo
Spotted by
Smith Zoo

Western Cape, South Africa

Spotted on Aug 4, 2012
Submitted on Aug 4, 2012

Spotted for Mission

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