![European earwig / Te matā o Ūropi [Forficula auricularia]](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/Forficula-auricularia__FitMaxWzg3Miw1NDVd.jpg)
European earwig / Te matā o Ūropi Forficula auricularia
- Pūtoi
- Order
- Dermaptera
- Whānau
- Family
- Forficulidae
Te Rahi
- E 10–20 mm
Size range
- 10–20 mm
Te Tītaringa
- I kawea mai i tāwāhi, kitea nuitia ai i ngā māra i te raumati
Distribution
- Introduced, common in gardens in summer
Te Huringa Ora
- Ka pau i a ia te takurua ki te poho o Papatūānuku
- He kaiota, he kaikiko anō
- Tērā ka kino i a ia ngā hua e tata ana te tipu ki te papa, pērā i te rōpere
- Kai ai i ngā ngārara e iti ake ana i a ia
- He oho pō
- Nō te tau 1898 i kitea tuatahitia ai
- He parirau anō ōna e huna mai ana i raro i ngā kahu parirau, engari me uaua ka rere
- He kuku anō ōna hei hopu kai māna, hei ārai atu hoki i te hoariri – ki te whakaaro ia kua kore he rerenga mōna i te hoariri, tērā tonu ka ngau
Life history
- Overwinter underground
- Omnivorous, feed on plant or animal material
- May damage fruit near ground e.g. strawberries
- Preys on smaller insects
- Nocturnal
- First recorded in New Zealand 1898
- Has wings concealed under wing covers but seldom flies
- Pincers for capture of prey and defence – could give a bite if cornered
![European earwig / Te matā o Ūropi [Forficula auricularia] Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/Forficula-auricularia__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.jpg)
![European earwig / Te matā o Ūropi [Forficula auricularia] Image: Phil Bendle Collection CitSciHub.nz Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/Forficula_auricularia_European_earwig_hiore_kakati__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.JPG)