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Dermaptera

Common name:

Earwigs

Distribution:

Every continent except Antarctica

Habitat:

Small crevices and debris in woodland, fields and gardens

Diet:

Plants, ripe fruits, decaying plant or animal matter

Number of species globally

2000

Number of species in Hong Kong :

32

Morphology
(how to recognize them) :

-Flat elongated body
-Forcep-like pincer at the end of the abdomen
-Segmented antennae
-Two pairs of wings
-Forewings are short and smooth, hindwings are membranous and semicircular

Diagram

Did you know ?

The name earwig comes from an old english myth that earwigs crawl into your ears when you are sleeping and lay eggs in your brain. Fortunately, this is only a misunderstanding and comes from the fact that earwigs are nocturnal and like dark crevices.

Gallery

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