# Western Earwig (*Forficula dentata*) The Western Earwig is a small insect with long pincers on its tail. They like to hide in dark places and come out at night to look for food like leaves and tiny bugs. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Western Earwig](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Madre_tijereta_con_huevos_y_cr%C3%ADas_%22Forficula_dentata%22.jpg&width=800) Photo: Brandon Antonio Segura Torres & Priscilla Vieto Bonilla, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Madre_tijereta_con_huevos_y_cr%C3%ADas_%22Forficula_dentata%22.jpg) ## Appearance The Western Earwig is a slender, dark reddish-brown insect with a flattened body and distinctive yellowish-brown legs and antennae. Its most striking feature is a pair of prominent, forcep-like pincers, called cerci, located at the end of its abdomen. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Dermaptera - **Family:** Forficulidae - **Genus:** Forficula ## Interesting facts - Earwigs have wings that fold up like a tiny fan under their wing covers! - Some earwig mothers are super protectors, cleaning their eggs to keep them safe! - Their mighty pincers also help earwigs cleverly fold their delicate wings! - These insects often eat rotting plants and tiny bugs, helping clean up gardens! ## Special abilities - **Pincer Precision:** Western Earwig can use its strong abdominal pincers to defend itself from predators and to manipulate food items with surprising precision. - **Hidden Wings Flight:** Western Earwig has hidden, fan-like wings neatly folded under short wing covers that allow it to fly, though it often prefers to scuttle or crawl. - **Maternal Guardian:** Western Earwig can meticulously care for its eggs and young nymphs, guarding them and even cleaning fungal growth to improve their survival chances. - **Night Navigator:** Western Earwig has an excellent sense of touch and smell that helps it navigate and find food in the dark, making it a successful nocturnal hunter and scavenger. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-40 mm - **Size:** 10-19 mm - **Lifespan:** 180-365 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding A tiny omnivore, it munches on dead plants, small insects, and other decaying bits. - **Primary Foods:** decaying plant matter, small insects, aphids, soft fruits, fungi - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** melon aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — helps control garden pests like aphids - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — a common backyard bird that preys on insects - **Eaten by:** Bold Jumper (*Phidippus audax*) — a hunting spider found in gardens ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Earwigs are not dangerous, but it's best to leave them alone and watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western Earwig? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Western Earwig's wingspan? 20-40 mm ### How big is Western Earwig? 10-19 mm ### How long does Western Earwig live? 180-365 days ### What does Western Earwig eat? A tiny omnivore, it munches on dead plants, small insects, and other decaying bits. ### Where is Western Earwig usually found? Urban areas ### How does Western Earwig hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Western Earwig have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Professorville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/professorville) — California, US · Park - [Iron Horse Regional Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/iron-horse-regional-trail) — California, US · Trail - [James Cant Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/james-cant-ranch) — Oregon, US · Historic Site - [Old Town Eureka](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-town-eureka) — California, US · Historic District - [Oregon Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oregon-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Putah Creek State Wildlife Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/putah-creek-state-wildlife-area) — California, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Western Earwig](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-earwig) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Western Earwig: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-earwig)