Earwigs
(Order: Dermaptera)
Seven families within Australia, containing 90 described species, which are commonly encountered in homes and domestic gardens. Tip of the abdomen has pronounced forcipules/pincers, which are curved in males and straight with inward pointing tips in females. Wings, when present, consist of reduced protective forewings and membranous hindwings folded neatly underneath; this shape is referred to as an ear-wing, which likely is the origin of the common name. Body generally shiny, brown to blackish and flattened. Males display to females prior to mating and eggs are laid in batches within soil crevices or similar sites, which are guarded against predators and cleaned regularly.