Carnivorous Earwigs??!!

[MoranDisciple]

I recently saw some videos on carnivorous earwigs. Knowing the social nature of their detritivorous cousins, I thought it might be a cool project to raise a colony of these fascinating little creatures. The way they hunt is very cool and I highly recommend searching up a few vids. Does anyone have experience with this oddball or have some for sale?

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

As far as I know all earwigs are carnivorous to some degree. The common European earwigs are some of the least aggressive, but they still prey extensively on aphid and other slow- moving prey items. Others like ringlegged earwigs are more carnivorous, and the maritime earwig (the large wingless species found on beaches all over the world) is almost entirely carnivorous.

 

[REEFSPIDER]

I recently came across a bunch of I1 ear wigs and raised them together in a cup for a few molts, they're opportunistic feeders including cannibalism.

 

[REEFSPIDER]

@Salmonsaladsandwich ,
I found 1st instar earwigs while flipping logs and i took them home, they molted a few times with me in my care, during that time i fed them repashy food and witnessed them eating other micro fauna that came with them in the scoop of wild dirt in which they were collected, among this was mites, ants, and small worms. Along with eating omnivorously under observation, they were also very cannibalistic after instar # 3 regardless if other food sources were present (which they always were).

 

[MoranDisciple]

@Salmonsaladsandwich ,
I found 1st instar earwigs while flipping logs and i took them home, they molted a few times with me in my care, during that time i fed them repashy food and witnessed them eating other micro fauna that came with them in the scoop of wild dirt in which they were collected, among this was mites, ants, and small worms. Along with eating omnivorously under observation, they were also very cannibalistic after instar # 3 regardless if other food sources were present (which they always were).

What species?

 

[REEFSPIDER]

What species?

I couldn't tell ya because i released them before they grew to a size i could identify them, when i found them they were so tiny i thought they were springtails because of how densely populated and clustered they were in a rather confined space, and i was collecting isopods at the time so i took a scoop of them home too. Once it was realized that they were ear wig babies i returned them to the site i collected them from.

 

[REEFSPIDER]

What species?

The adults i find in the vicinity of the babies i found are decently sized for American earwigs, some up to 1.5" probably introduced non natives

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

The adults i find in the vicinity of the babies i found are decently sized for American earwigs, some up to 1.5" probably introduced non natives

Are they wingless? Are they tan/brown or are they glossy black?

 

[REEFSPIDER]

Are they wingless? Are they tan/brown or are they glossy black?

They have brownish heads with a shiny golden bit behind that, winglets not actual wings, and their posterior section (the darker part before the pinchy) tends to be a bloody burghandy wine to black

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

They have brownish heads with a shiny golden bit behind that, winglets not actual wings, and their posterior section (the darker part before the pinchy) tends to be a bloody burghandy wine to black

Sounds like european earwigs.

They actually do have full sized wings, you just don't normally see em.

 

[REEFSPIDER]

Sounds like european earwigs.

They actually do have full sized wings, you just don't normally see em.

If I walk the trail today I'll photograph some of the variety of earwigs I see, one of which I agree is that European, another I see in great numbers is more stoutly built like a cricket. But is still an earwig just not as elongated as the European sp.

 

[BenLeeKing]

My friend is keeping Cranopygia sp., he told me they preferred live prey over fish flakes. We once fed it a lateralis that's almost its size, it used it's pincers like a bear trap and just snagged it an start eating it alive.

 

[MoranDisciple]

My friend is keeping Cranopygia sp., he told me they preferred live prey over fish flakes. We once fed it a lateralis that's almost its size, it used it's pincers like a bear trap and just snagged it an start eating it alive.

I would like to get in touch with said friend

 

[REEFSPIDER]

So i didn't actually get out to my regular spot today, buttt i did end up flipping some rocks in a new area and I've managed to come across a fairly large earwig just for this thread. Here she is.

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

So i didn't actually get out to my regular spot today, buttt i did end up flipping some rocks in a new area and I've managed to come across a fairly large earwig just for this thread. Here she is. View attachment 305022

Looks like a Euborellia species. Resembles arcanum (which would match the large size). I haven't heard of those occuring in california, but they're a species that's spread to greenhouses etc. around the world so it wouldn't be surprising.

The species usually found in california is the ringlegged earwig, E. annulipes, but this one's pincer shape and leg color/pattern don't match.

 

[REEFSPIDER]

She was under a rock at the base of a cliff in the southbay area. I'd believe she was probably brought in potted plants which were apparent in the vicinity.

 

[BenLeeKing]

I would like to get in touch with said friend

He’s not really active on the boards, tho I can look up his profile and PM it to you. Though if you wanna see if he can sell you some it might be hard, cause he doesn’t ship or sale.