European Earwig

Description:

Forficula auricularia has an elongated flattened brownish colored body,[3] with a shield-shaped pronotum,[4] two pairs of wings and a pair of forcep-like cerci.[5] They are about 12–15 mm long. The second tarsal segment is lobed, extending distally below the third tarsal segment.[6] The antenna consists of 11–14 segments, and the mouth parts are of the chewing type.[3] Adult males are polymorphic in body weight and head width, as well as cercus length and width.[7] The male forceps are very robust and broadened basally with crenulate teeth.[8] The female forceps are about 3 mm long, and are less robust and straighter. The cerci are used during mating, feeding, and self-defense. Females also have tegmina of about 2 mm in length. Third instar or older nymphs that have lost one branch of cerci are capable of regenerating it in form of a straight structure. Males with asymmetrical forceps are called gynandromorphs or hermaphrodites because they resemble females.

Habitat:

Native to Europe, western Asia and probably North Africa,[10][11] Forficula auricularia was introduced to North America in the early twentieth century and is currently spread throughout much of the continent.[8] In North America, European earwigs comprise two sibling species, which are reproductively isolated.[12] Populations in cold continental climates mostly have one clutch per year, forming species A,[13] whereas those in warmer climates have two clutches per year, forming species B.[12][14] European earwigs are most commonly found in temperate climates, since they were originally discovered in the Palearctic region, and are most active when the daily temperature has minimal fluctuation.

Notes:

spotted in the weet meadow near my house