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European Earwig and Native Earwig
Forficulina auricularia and Labidura truncata plus other spp
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Native earwig, L. truncata.
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European earwigs, male (left), female (right).
European Earwig
Adults are up to 20mm long, with a smooth flattened body and a pair of pincers at the end of the body. They are shiny brown with distinctive yellowish legs, pincers and shoulder margins. Pincers are long and straight for females and curved for males. Nymphs resemble adults but are paler and wingless.
Native Earwig
Are similar to European earwigs but are reddish-brown with darker abdomens and pincers. Native earwigs are polyphagous; they generally do not damage plants but can potentially be pests. L.truncata, the common brown earwig prefers soft-bodied insects and is a predator of caterpillars and may also attack redlegged earth mite and lucerne flea. It can be distinguished by the presence of an orange triangle behind the head on the wing case (elytra).
Earwigs are largely nocturnal and feed on leaves and stems, sometimes down to ground level. Mainly on heavy soil types. Typical earwig damage is irregular shaped holes in leaves. They can also chew pods, reducing seed development and can contaminate windrows at harvest.
CESAR; DAFWA