''Anisolabis maritima'', commonly known as the maritime earwig or the seaside earwig, is a species of
earwig in the family
Anisolabididae
Anisolabididae is a family of earwigs, in the suborder Forficulina and the order Dermaptera. It is one of nine families in the suborder Forficulina, and contains thirty-eight genera spread across thirteen subfamilies.
Subfamilies
The family cont ...
. Similar to the
seashore earwig, this species can be found near the shore line,
and is
cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan may refer to:
Food and drink
* Cosmopolitan (cocktail), also known as a "Cosmo"
History
* Rootless cosmopolitan, a Soviet derogatory epithet during Joseph Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign of 1949–1953
Hotels and resorts
* Cosmopoli ...
. It can be found in almost all
biogeographic realms. Scientists believe that these earwigs originally came from Asia.
[Fimrite, Peter. "Evolution: Score 1 for Earwig's Odd Claw." SFGate. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Evolution-Score-1-for-earwig-s-odd-claw-3808720.php] Since then, however, they have been introduced to North America, and have now spread around the world due to international commerce.
[Bug of the Month: Maritime Earwig]
" Boston Harbor Islands- All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. Harvard College, n.d. Web. 13 June 2017.
This earwig is approximately long, and is a grayish or blackish in color with light yellow legs.
Unlike many other species of earwigs, it does not have any wings.
Male maritime earwigs are known for their characteristically asymmetrical forceps, which they use for mating, for capturing prey, and for protecting themselves.
These
forceps have even been known to be strong enough to break human skin.
This species preys on many different small
invertebrates, including
fleas,
crickets,
ants, small
beetles,
sowbug
A woodlouse (plural woodlice) is an isopod crustacean from the polyphyleticThe current consensus is that Oniscidea is actually triphyletic suborder Oniscidea within the order Isopoda. They get their name from often being found in old wood. ...
s; it even exhibits
cannibalistic tendencies.
Because of their location on the beach, maritime earwigs are often found under seaweed and driftwood during the day.
They prefer “dark, warm, humid places” to stay in.
In maritime earwigs in particular, evidence of
filial cannibalism has been found. Filial cannibalism is the practice of a mother eating some of her offspring. Scientists believe that maritime earwigs practice this behavior in order to make their clutch maintain the size that best optimizes their investment. In this case, the mother will often eat the youngest child, which serves to shorten the total time she spends caring for the young. As she optimizes the childbearing process, the amount of energy she has to spend on her remaining children increases, as does their chance of survival.
[Julie S., Miller, and Zink Andrew G. (2012) "Parental Care Trade-Offs And The Role Of Filial Cannibalism In The Maritime Earwig, Anisolabis maritima." Animal Behaviour 83 (6): 1387-1394.]
See also
*
List of Dermapterans of Australia
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2222095
Anisolabididae
Cosmopolitan arthropods
Insects described in 1832