Female adult earwig (Forficula auricularia) Science Image

Ref: 80200865



Female adult earwig (Forficula auricularia) coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Females are easily distinguishable from males by their tail pincers which are smaller and less curved. Earwigs have little seen fan-like wings which are elaborately folded and hidden under leathery wing cases. The earwig likes a dark damp place to rest in during the day such as under bark or in a damp crevice in a house or shed. They come out at night to scavenge on decaying plant and animal matter. They are frequently a pest of soft stemmed flowers such as Dahlias to which they cause great damage. Magnification x8 at an image size of 10 cm wide.