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Earwig

Dermaptera

Photo by Smith Zoo
Published on Project Noah
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-34.1289, 18.4222

Field Notes

Description:

Many earwig species display maternal care, which is uncommon among insects. Female earwigs may care for their eggs, and even after they have hatched as nymphs will continue to watch over offspring until their second molt. As the nymphs molt, sexual dimorphism such as differences in pincer shapes begins to show.

Habitat:

Seems like she was packing her eggs in a corner. In my native tounge we call them "oorkruiper" wich means "ear crawler" in English. I dont know how true this is, but from a young age South Africans will keep clear of them.

Reference Links:

Earwig Research Centre :: The Earwigs of South Africa

Species ID Suggestions

Earwig

Forficula

Reference Link
hg_williams3
1

Comments (3)
Smith Zoo
Hi hg williams, yes, that's the one. Thank you so much. It makes so much sense, she was packing the eggs so neatly in that corner. Wow, how much it changes my experience once I read up on it.
hg_williams3
also see this link http://www.earwigs-online.de/ZA/za.html
hg_williams3
Its of the order Dermaptera its called an ear wig in english check that reference its a very under researched insect because of the myths about its ear crawling but its actual egg laying behaviour is very interest and very maternal for an insect

Spotted for Missions

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Eggs of the World

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Photographed
PublishedAugust 4, 2012

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