Labia minor
Encyclopedia
Labia minor, the lesser earwig or small earwig, is a species
of earwig
. It is widespread globally in temperate climates, preferring warm locations such as compost heaps in parts of its range. It is 4–7 mm long, including the pincer, and chocolate brown in colour.
, at 4–7 mm (0.15748031496063–0.275590551181102 ) long. It is chocolate brown
, and less shiny than the chestnut brown
F. auricularia. The whole body is covered with fine yellow seta
e, and the antennae
are a paler colour. The forceps (pincer
) at the animal's tail are used to help unfurl the wings
, in preparation for flight
. Unlike F. auricularia, Labia minor flies readily.
. In cooler climates, it is only found in warm places, such as actively decaying compost heaps, and are most often encountered when turning the compost. Unusually for an insect, there is extensive maternal care of the eggs
and offspring, with the mother feeding them for a week or two after they hatch.
, or an early adventive species. The first record from the United States
dates from 1838, but the species may have been present for a long time before that. It ranges further north, into British Columbia
and Quebec
than any other earwig species, and is the only earwig in Quebec. It has also been introduced to Australia
, Madeira
, the Galápagos Islands
and the Philippines
. The species is probably often overlooked, however, due to its small size, and may be more widespread than is currently known.
in 1758, under the name Forficula minor. When William Elford Leach
established the genus Labia in 1815, Linnaeus' Forficula minor was made the type species
of that new genus, and renamed Labia minor.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of earwig
Earwig
Earwigs make up the insect order Dermaptera, found throughout the Americas, Africa, Eurasia, Australia and New Zealand. With 1,800 species in 12 families, they are one of the smaller insect orders...
. It is widespread globally in temperate climates, preferring warm locations such as compost heaps in parts of its range. It is 4–7 mm long, including the pincer, and chocolate brown in colour.
Description
Labia minor is about half the size of Forficula auriculariaForficula auricularia
Forficula auricularia, the common earwig or European earwig, is an omnivorous insect in the family Forficulidae. The European earwig is a common household insect in North America. Though they frighten many, they are harmless but tend to take up habitation within the home...
, at 4–7 mm (0.15748031496063–0.275590551181102 ) long. It is chocolate brown
Chocolate (color)
The color chocolate is a tone of deep brown that resembles chocolate. At right is displayed the color traditionally called chocolate.The first recorded use of chocolate as a color name in English was in 1737....
, and less shiny than the chestnut brown
Chestnut (color)
Chestnut, also known as Indian red, is a color, a medium brownish shade of red, and is named after the nut of the chestnut tree.As Indian red, it is named after the red laterite soil found in India. It is thus an earth tone as well as a red. It is composed of naturally occurring iron oxides. Other...
F. auricularia. The whole body is covered with fine yellow seta
Seta
Seta is a biological term derived from the Latin word for "bristle". It refers to a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms.-Animal setae:In zoology, most "setae" occur in invertebrates....
e, and the antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
are a paler colour. The forceps (pincer
Pincer (biology)
A pincer is the part of an arthropod that enables it to carry loads, to defend against other creatures, or to attack prey. In insects, the pincers are usually part of the creature's mandible, and often venom or acid can be injected through the pincer into an enemy during a pincer strike.Some...
) at the animal's tail are used to help unfurl the wings
Insect wing
Insects are the only group of invertebrates known to have evolved flight. Insects possess some remarkable flight characteristics and abilities, still far superior to attempts by humans to replicate their capabilities. Even our understanding of the aerodynamics of flexible, flapping wings and how...
, in preparation for flight
Insect flight
Insects are the only group of invertebrates known to have evolved flight. Insects possess some remarkable flight characteristics and abilities, still far superior to attempts by humans to replicate their capabilities. Even our understanding of the aerodynamics of flexible, flapping wings and how...
. Unlike F. auricularia, Labia minor flies readily.
Ecology
Labia minor feeds on decaying plant material and other detritusDetritus
Detritus is a biological term used to describe dead or waste organic material.Detritus may also refer to:* Detritus , a geological term used to describe the particles of rock produced by weathering...
. In cooler climates, it is only found in warm places, such as actively decaying compost heaps, and are most often encountered when turning the compost. Unusually for an insect, there is extensive maternal care of the eggs
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
and offspring, with the mother feeding them for a week or two after they hatch.
Distribution
Labia minor is widespread in temperate zones around the world. It is unclear whether it is a native species in North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, or an early adventive species. The first record from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dates from 1838, but the species may have been present for a long time before that. It ranges further north, into British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
than any other earwig species, and is the only earwig in Quebec. It has also been introduced to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
, the Galápagos Islands
Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of continental Ecuador, of which they are a part.The Galápagos Islands and its surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The species is probably often overlooked, however, due to its small size, and may be more widespread than is currently known.
Taxonomic history
Labia minor was originally named by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his work Systema NaturaeSystema Naturae
The book was one of the major works of the Swedish botanist, zoologist and physician Carolus Linnaeus. The first edition was published in 1735...
in 1758, under the name Forficula minor. When William Elford Leach
William Elford Leach
William Elford Leach FRS was an English zoologist and marine biologist.Leach was born at Hoe Gate, Plymouth, the son of a solicitor. At the age of twelve he went to school in Exeter, studying anatomy and chemistry. By this time he was already collecting marine samples from Plymouth Sound and along...
established the genus Labia in 1815, Linnaeus' Forficula minor was made the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of that new genus, and renamed Labia minor.