Family FORFICULIDAE
Compiler and date details
Gerasimos Cassis, Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Introduction
The Forficulidae are a cosmopolitan family comprising eight subfamilies, 65 genera and 490 species (Steinmann 1993).
The family is represented in Australia by two subfamilies and four genera. Five species are known, among them the tramp species, Forficula auricularia Linnaeus.
Forficulids are moderately large to large earwigs, mostly cylindrical, and often robust. They are characterised by the ventrally expanded second tarsal segment which, unlike that of chelisochids, is lobiform. The antennae are not greatly elongated and are 12–16 jointed. The species are generally alate, although they are sometimes secondarily apterous. The male genitalia have weakly sclerotised external parameres, a single genital lobe with the virga often shortened, and with or without a basal vesicle (Steinmann 1993).
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |