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Earwig


Earwig
Photo Information
Copyright: Enio Branco (Brutamonte) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 14 W: 0 N: 54] (723)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-02-13
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony W50
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/40 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-02-13 22:14
Viewed: 566
Points: 7
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Portuguese]
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Hexapoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Dermaptera

Suborder Forficulina
Pygidicranidae
Diplatyidae
Anisolabididae
Labiduridae
Apachyidae
Spongiphoridae
Chelisochidae
Forficulidae

Suborder Hemimerina
Hemimeridae

Suborder Arixenina
Arixeniidae

The name "earwig" is generally said to originate from an old European belief that earwigs crawl into people's ears and lay eggs in the brain.
Most earwigs are elongate, flattened, and are dark brown. Lengths are mostly in the 10-14 mm range, with the St. Helena earwig reaching 80 mm. Cerci range from nonexistent to long arcs up to one-third as long as the rest of the body. As in other orthopteroid insects, mouthparts are adapted for chewing. When earwigs have wings (are not agnathous), the hindwings are folded in a complex fashion, so that they fit under the forewings. Earwigs rarely fly.
Female (cerci not hooked)The abdomen of the earwig is flexible and muscular. It is capable of maneuvering as well as opening and closing of the forceps. The forceps are used for a variety of purposes. In some species, the forceps have also been observed in use for holding prey, and in copulation. The forceps tend to be more curved.
Some tropical species are brightly colored. Occasionally earwigs are confused with cockroaches because of the points on the end, the long antennae. Earwigs are most active at night and can be seen patrolling household walls and ceilings. Interaction with earwigs at this time results in a defensive free fall to the ground below, and the subsequent scramble to a nearby cleft or crevice.
Earwigs are also drawn to damp conditions. During the summer they can be found around sinks and in bathrooms. Earwigs tend to gather in shady cracks or openings or anywhere they can remain concealed in daylight hours. Picnic tables, compost and waste bins, patios, lawn furniture, window frames or anything with minute spaces can potentially harbour these unwanted residents. Upon gaining entry to the basement and living areas of the home, earwigs can easily find cover in undisturbed magazine and newspaper piles, furniture/wickerwork, base boards, carpeted stairways, pet food dishes, and even inside DVD cases. Earwigs are inclined to take risks and are exploratory creatures but are overly unaware of the consequences and will often find themselves trapped in poison baited cups or buckets of soapy water.


(Text from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwig)
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 511 W: 8 N: 1096] (4054)
  • [2007-02-13 23:16]

Linda tesourinha, boa composicao e cores...

Everton.

Focus is not great, but colors are relatively true. I hate these insects with a passion, they get into everything. For years there were none in the area I grew up, now their a real problem.

Great close up rich in colors and details.
Andrea

Hello Brutamonte,
It is really nice to watch you picture because you always try to show something un-commercial and new :) The DOF on this picture is not perfect but on the other hand I like a POV and very informatve note.
Best greetings nad TFS,
Radomir

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