Common Earwig

Forficula auricularia

The Common Earwig is a reddish-brown omnivorous insect that belongs to the family Forficulidae. It has a flattened, elongated body and slender, beaded antennae. The name "earwig" derives from the shape of its hindwings, which resemble human ears when unfolded. The species name, auricularia, specifically refers to this characteristic. An earwig has a pair of pincers at the end of its flexible abdomen. Both males and females have pincers, but in males, they are large and curved, while in females, they are straight. Nymphs closely resemble adults but have either small or no wings.