Types of Earwigs

Earwigs are in the Class Insecta and are of the order Dermaptera. Dermaptera means “skin wing” due to the leathery appearance of the wings. Earwigs have four wings and the hind wings fold under the front wings typically.

There are over twenty species of earwigs in North America; but there are about 1800 species worldwide. Most earwigs encountered in North America are up to an inch long; however, there are species in other parts of the world which can reach over three inches in length, although the largest known earwig might be extinct.

Under the order Dermaptera, there are three suborders. These include the Arixenina, the Deploglossata, and the Forficulina. There are five families of Dermaptera, which include Pygidicranidae, Anisolabididae, Labiidae, Labiduridae, and Forficulidae.

Pygidicranidae has a single American species, Pyragropsis buscki (Caudell) which is found only in the very southern parts of Florida and the Caribbean. This is earwig is about a half inch in length as an adult.

Anisolabididae has several species including some that are predators of other insects. Most of these are found in debris such as beneath wet fallen leaves or mulch, or can be found in cracks and crevices in homes. Most of these species are wingless or have wings which are not developed thus rendering flight impossible.

Labiddae are also called Little Earwigs. These species are small with some less than one quarter of an inch in length. Some species are excellent fliers and are attracted to lights at night. Other species of this family have undeveloped wings and are not fliers. One species, V. apicedentatus (Caudell) is found in the desert of the southwestern United States.

Labiduridae include striped earwigs and can grow up to over an inch long. These are striped from head through the top middle section, or pronotum.

Chelisochidae, or Black Earwigs, is found mostly on the west coast, specifically California. There is only one species and this is very dark and just under an inch long.

Finally, Forficulidae are the European Earwigs which are found in the northeast United States as well as southern Canada and the southwest.