Dermptera

Earwigs make up the insect order Dermptera.

The Life Cycle of the Dermaptera is has a complete life cycle. The sperm could stay in the female for months before fertilizing the eggs. The female will then lay 20 to 80 pearly white eggs in two days. The eggs hatch in seven days. The mother may assist the nymphs in hatching. When the nymphs hatch, they eat the egg casing and continue to live with the mother. The nymphs look similar to their parents, only smaller, and will nest under their mother and she will continue to protect them until their second molt. The nymphs feed on food regurgitated by the mother,and on their own molts. If the mother dies before the nymphs are ready to leave, the nymphs may eat her. After five to six instars, the nymphs will molt into adults.

There are nearly 2,000 different species of me that are found throughout the American, Australian and Eurasian continents!

Dermptera

HabitatEarwigs are sensitive to heat and dryness, so they usually hide in cool, dark places during the day and come out at night.Some species hide mostly under leaves, rocks and other debris, while others hide under the bark of trees. An important habitat in the deserts of the southwest US is inside rotting cactus- one of the few places with constant moisture even in the driest parts of the year.

Fun Fact:Earwigs were thought to crawl into people's ears at night to nest or lay eggs.

FoodPlants, organic matter, other insects (some are almost exclusively carnivorous, and many are important in controlling soil pests).

Fun Fact;Dermaptera = "skin wings" Refers to the leathery texture of the forewings.

Fun Fact:Some are wingless, but in most the fore wings are represented by short leathery covers called tegmina, under which the hind wings (if present) fold in a unique fan-like fashion leaving a chitinized triangular part exposed.

Fun Facts:Some species often hide in cargo and are easily spread by commerce. Fun facts:Most of our species are non-native, and new ones show up regularly in ports, though few get established.