Have you ever come across an earwig with its intimidating pincers, crawling across your floor or hiding in your camping gear? Despite their creepy reputation, these creatures have not received as much attention from scientists compared to social insects like ants and bees.

But there are a few researchers who have delved into the fascinating world of earwigs, revealing their surprisingly social behavior. In the 1990s and early 2000s, studies focused on earwig courtship rituals, showcasing elaborate displays of attraction and rejection that can last for hours.

For example, the Papua New Guinea earwig Tagalina papua engages in mating sessions lasting up to 20 hours, with females usually determining when the process ends. Male bone-house earwigs, like Marava arachidis, can be quite forceful during mating, using their pincers and genitalia hook to secure themselves inside the female’s reproductive tract.

Female earwigs have the ability to store sperm in internal pouches, allowing them to fertilize multiple broods without repeated mating. Some males, like those of the pale-legged earwig Euborellia pallipes, have been observed removing the sperm of other males using a specialized part of their genitalia.

Beyond their mating rituals, female earwigs show remarkable dedication to their offspring, as seen in the care provided to their eggs by entomologist Yoshitaka Kamimura. This behavior has been studied in European earwigs like Forficula auricularia, where females protect the eggs from harm and dehydration.

Despite their aggressive and cannibalistic tendencies, adult earwigs are known to group together, even with different species. Research suggests that earwigs raised in groups are more likely to seek social interaction as adults.

In conclusion, while earwigs may not be everyone’s favorite insect, their complex behaviors and social dynamics make them a fascinating subject for researchers. Whether it’s their intricate courtship rituals or the care they provide to their offspring, earwigs continue to surprise and intrigue scientists exploring the hidden world beneath our feet.