The pincers of a common earwig, Forficula auricularia, which belongs to the order known as Dermaptera. This harmless animal does not creep into human

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The pincers of a common earwig, Forficula auricularia, which belongs to the order known as Dermaptera. This harmless animal does not creep into human ears and bite the eardrum as superstition says. The strong pincers are situated at the extremity of the abdomen and are used by this nocturnal hunter to capture flies and small caterpillars. The pincers are also used for defence purposes. Earwigs have fully developed wings but they have seldom been seen to fly. Earwigs may be found during the day in large sleeping communities underneath bark, boards or stones. (See H100/405 for the analogy with tongs)

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Size: 3391px × 5170px
Photo credit: © CLAUDE NURIDSANY & MARIE PERENNOU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, auricularia, earwig, forficula, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, nature, pincers, wildlife, zoology