Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Ringlegged earwig

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Kingdom
  
Family
  
Genus
  
Order
  
Earwig

Higher classification
  
Euborellia

Suborder
  
Forficulina

Subfamily
  
Anisolabidinae

Scientific name
  
Euborellia annulipes

Phylum
  
Rank
  
Species

Ringlegged earwig Ringlegged Earwig Euborellia annulipes BugGuideNet

Similar
  
Euborellia, Earwig, Anisolabididae, Anisolabis, Labiduridae

The ringlegged earwig (Euborellia annulipes) is a species of earwig in the family Anisolabididae.

Contents

Description

Ringlegged earwig Ringlegged Earwig Euborellia annulipes stevenw12339 Flickr

Adult Euborellia annulipes are typically dark brown, and 10 mm (0.4 in) to 25 mm (1.0 in) in length. It is a wingless species, and like most earwigs, the females are larger than the males. Their legs are a pale brown color, and have a noticeable dark band around the middle of the femur, or occasionally the tibia, hence their common name. Their antenna generally have sixteen segments, although other numbers are possible.

Ringlegged earwig Ring legged earwig Euborellia annulipes BugGuideNet

Their cerci share similar characteristics to most earwigs, as males' cerci are more curved than females'. Further gender differences can be found in the species abdomen: males have ten abdominal segments, while females have eight.

Discovery and habitat

Ringlegged earwig Ringlegged Earwig Euborellia annulipes BugGuideNet

Described by Hippolyte Lucas in 1847, the ringlegged earwig has been known to inhabit the United States since 1902. Over the years, it has obtained cosmopolitan status, documented across Canada, Central and Southern America, Europe, India, China, Japan, and others.

The species, like other earwigs, tends to inhabit both tropical and temperate climates.

Life cycle

Ringlegged earwig httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Adult females generally lay eggs in batches, with an average of fifty eggs in each batch, and two to four batches. Eggs are laid at different seasons during the year. If laid in the fall, they will usually incubate over the winter, while those laid in spring will incubate for a shorter time before hatching. During the incubation period, the mother guards the eggs, protecting them from predators, and eating any fungi that starts to grow on them.

Ringlegged earwig Earwigs 1800PestControl

A few days after being born, nymphs will leave their nest. They resemble adults in shape, except for their smaller size, and absence of wingpads. Also, while the number of abdominal segments varies in adults depending on sex, nymphs always have ten abdominal segments. They will continue to develop for five instars, which will generally last for 45 and 176 days, until they become adults. Approximately 75% of nymphs will develop into females.

Ringlegged earwig Ringlegged Earwig Euborellia annulipes

The earwigs will mate soon after they reach adulthood, and after a period of approximately eleven days, the eggs are laid. Ringlegged earwigs generally complete two to three generations per year, or one for spring and one for autumn, and a single generation can be completed in 61 days.

Adult ringlegged earwigs can be found throughout the year, except in winter, when they stay underground.

References

Ringlegged earwig Wikipedia