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Earwig

Dermaptera

Last updated: February 24, 2021
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
  1. Animals Home
  2. All Animals
  3. Invertebrates
  4. Insects
  5. Earwig

There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Continue Reading after the facts...


Earwig Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Dermaptera
Scientific Name
Dermaptera

Earwig Conservation Status

  • Least Concern

Earwig Locations

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Central-America
  • Eurasia
  • Europe
  • North-America
  • Oceania
  • South-America
Earwig Locations

Earwig Facts

Main Prey
Plants, Flowers, Insects
Distinctive Feature
Sharp pincers and delicate wings
Habitat
Grass and woodlands
Predators
Toads, Birds, Beetles
Diet
Omnivore
Average Litter Size
50
Favorite Food
Plants
Common Name
Earwig
Number Of Species
1800
Location
Worldwide
Slogan
There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Earwig Physical Characteristics

Colour
  • Yellow
  • Tan
Skin Type
Shell
Weight
2g - 5g (0.07oz - 0.1oz)
Length
1cm - 3cm (0.4in - 1.2in)

Earwig Images

Click through all of our Earwig images in the gallery.

View all of the Earwig images!




The earwig is a small sized insect that is found in a variety of habitats around the world. There are nearly 2,000 different species of earwig that are found throughout the American, Australian and Eurasian continents.

The earwig has a small body size, that is split into three parts in a similar way to numerous other insect species. The earwig has sharp pincers on its abdomen and large wings that generally remain concealed against the body of the earwig. Although earwigs are able to fly, they often don’t.

Earwigs are nocturnal animals that often hide in small, moist crevices during the day, and are active at night. Damage to foliage, flowers, and various crops are commonly blamed on earwigs but they also eat certain insects that damage them.

The earwig is thought to get its name from people fearing that earwigs crawled into your ear to lay their eggs. Although this is not the sole intention of the earwig, it is certainly thought to be possible as they like narrow, warm spaces such as the ear canal.

The earwig is an omnivorous animal meaning that earwigs will eat almost anything they can find. Earwigs spend most of their time feeding on a wide variety of other insects and plants including flowers, fruits and leaves.

Due to their small size, earwigs have a number of natural predators wherever they live in the world. Amphibians such as frogs, newts and toads are among the most common predators of the earwig along with birds and other larger insects such as beetles.

Female earwigs lay up to 80 small eggs which hatch within a couple of weeks. Female earwigs are known to be extremely protective of their young, often watching over them until they have reached their second moult (earwigs moult 5 times over the course of their lifetime).

View all 23 animals that start with E


Earwig FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Are Earwigs herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?

Earwigs are Omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and other animals.

What Kingdom do Earwigs belong to?

Earwigs belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What class do Earwigs belong to?

Earwigs belong to the class Insecta.

What phylum to Earwigs belong to?

Earwigs belong to the phylum Arthropoda.

What order do Earwigs belong to?

Earwigs belong to the order Dermaptera.

What type of covering do Earwigs have?

Earwigs are covered in Shells.

Where do Earwigs live?

Earwigs are found worldwide.

In what type of habitat do Earwigs live?

Earwigs live in grass and woodlands.

What is the main prey for Earwigs?

Earwigs eat plants, flowers, and insects.

What are some predators of Earwigs?

Predators of Earwigs include toads, birds, and beetles.

What are some distinguishing features of Earwigs?

Earwigs have sharp pincers and delicate wings.

How many babies do Earwigs have?

The average number of babies an Earwig has is 50.

What is an interesting fact about Earwigs?

There are nearly 2,000 different species of Earwig!

What is the scientific name for the Earwig?

The scientific name for the Earwig is Dermaptera.

How many species of Earwig are there?

There are 1,800 species of Earwig.

How many species of Earwig are there?

There are 1,800 species of Earwig.

Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species
  5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals

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