On the Biomorphological, Ethological Characteristics and Biocontrol Potential of Forficula auricularia L., 1758 (Dermaptera: Forficulidae)
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Keywords:
Earwigs, Pest Management, Ecology, Agricultural Sustainability, BiodiversityAbstract
Forficula auricularia L., 1758 (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) is an insect species native to Europe
and Western Asia. The common name "earwig" for this species has been suggested to be derived from the
Anglo-Saxon term "earwicga." Earwigs have distinctive physical characteristics, including a shield
shaped pronotum, chewing mandibular mouthparts, and heavily sclerotized forceps-like cerci. Earwigs
are primarily nocturnal and spend the day hiding in plant debris, cracks, crevices, and dark, moist places,
where they can sometimes congregate in large numbers. Social and maternal behaviors in earwigs are
surprisingly complex and sophisticated. The timing of seasonal mating behavior appears to be strongly
dependent on the geographic location of populations. Earwigs are known to be polyphagous insects that
feed on a wide variety of plant and animal matter, but they are classified as generalist predators. This
raises the question of whether the earwig is a beneficial or a plant pest due to its capacity to prey on
garden and agricultural pests. Earwigs are primarily recorded as plant pests on fruits such as apples,
apricots, and grapes, and vegetables such as beans, cabbage, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, and potatoes. The
overall objective of this study was to investigate the biomorphological and ethological characteristics of
Forficula auricularia L., 1758 (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) particularly its biocontrol potential for pest
management.
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