Earwig

Description:

Forficula auricularia, the common earwig or European earwig, is an omnivorous insect in the family Forficulidae. The European earwig survives in a variety of environments and is a common household insect in North America. The name "earwig" comes from a false superstition that these insects crawl into human ears and enter the brain; in fact, they are harmless to humans.[1] However, they are considered a pest because of their frightening appearance, foul odor, and tendency to invade crevices in homes and consume pantry foodstuffs.[1] Forficula auricularia has an elongated flattened brownish colored body,[2] with a shield-shaped pronotum,[3] two pairs of wings and a pair of forcep-like cerci.[4] They are about 12–15 mm long. The second tarsal segment is lobed, extending distally below the third tarsal segment.[5] The antenna consists of 11–14 segments, and the mouth parts are of the chewing type.[2] Adult males are polymorphic in body weight and head width, as well as cercus length and width.[6] The male forceps are very robust and broadened basally with crenulate teeth.[7] 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.[8]

Habitat:

Moist area under boards

Notes:

Exposed him when we turned over a board. He then ran for his life.