Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Order
DERMAPTERA
(earwigs)
Family
FORFICULIDAE
LIFE HISTORY
Adults of both sexes overwinter in sheltered situations
in the soil, and mate in the early winter. Eggs are laid in
December or January. Each female deposits a batch of
up to 100 in an earthen cell, and guards over the eggs
until after they hatch in February or March. Earwigs are
omnivorous insects, the nymphs feeding throughout the
spring and reaching maturity by the early summer; there
are four nymphal stages. Overwintered adult females
sometimes deposit a second batch of eggs in May or
June. Nymphs from these eggs develop from late June
or early July to September. Earwigs are nocturnal,
hiding by day within damaged flowers, in crimpled
leaves, under loose bark and so on. Although occurring
mainly outdoors, attacks are sometimes reported in
greenhouses.
Forficula auricularia
Linnaeus (
3
)
Common earwig
A useful predator of aphids and various other pests, but
also a frequent pest of flowers such as carnation
(
Dianthus caryophyllus
),
Chrysanthemum, Cineraria,
Clematis, Dahlia, Delphinium
and pansy (
Viola
tricolor
); buds and leaves are also attacked.
Cosmopolitan. Widely distributed in Europe.
DESCRIPTION
Adult female:
12-14 mm long; chestnut-brown; hind
wings, when folded away, projecting beyond elytra;
pincers slightly curved.
Adult male:
13-17 mm long;
similar to female but pincers distinctly curved.
Egg:
1.3
0.8 mm; pale yellow.
Nymph:
whitish to greyish
brown.
×
DAMAGE
Damaged flower petals become ragged, spoiling their
appearance; attacks on leaves are usually unimportant,
but chewed buds may die, resulting in blind shoots;
most damage occurs from June to September.
3
3
Male common earwig (
Forficula auricularia
).
Search WWH ::
Custom Search