The African Earwig (Euborellia cincticollis)

At a UV light setup near an overgrown backyard habitat in NW Georgia (Gordon County), US.

Working on confirming this species level ID. Thanks to Pudding4brains for the ID help!

comments (14)

Pudding4brains

Lion

Certainly looks like an adult female Euborellia cincticollis. Very interesting to me as I've always seen Euborellia spp as being wingless (very VERY rudimentary wings) and this species is fully winged.
Also interesting: BugGuide would have this species established in AZ and CA only, so your photo may well be a new state record. May be worthwhile to get it checked and recorded by some Dermaptera specialist for the US. Is Choate still around? Or maybe contact Fabian Haas - he should know where to forward your info to:
www.earwigs-online.de/US/us.html Posted 7 years ago, modified 7 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  That is some awesome ID help, Arp! Posted 7 years ago
2. 1. Pudding4brains
    
    Lion
    
    It's an awesome site Ferdy :o) I learn and enjoy every day here! Posted 7 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      As do I, and thank you so much. Posted 7 years ago
3. Flown Kimmerling
  
  Lion
  
  I just emailed Fabian and submitted to BugGuide! Let us hope for some more input! Posted 7 years ago

Pudding4brains

Lion

The remark on "established in AZ and CA" on BugGuide is probably taken from Hoffmann 1987, which is quite some time ago of course ...

https://ia800707.us.archive.org/9/items/cbarchive_50601_earwigsdermapteraofsouthcaroli1884/earwigsdermapteraofsouthcaroli1884.pdf

looking for newer sources ...
iNaturalist has records from texas:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/552956-Euborellia-cincticollis
The images on BugGuide are from California and Texas:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/355188/bgimage
I have not found any references for Georgia so far ...
Posted 7 years ago, modified 7 years ago
1. Pudding4brains
  
  Lion
  
  P.S. I've decided to "ID" your image in order to download what little Wikipedia has on the species and extend on that a little ... Posted 7 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Cool! I improved the taxonomy tree a bit, merged a duplicate genus and gave nodes a common name:
    https://www.jungledragon.com/wildlife/browse/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/dermaptera Posted 7 years ago
  2. 1. Pudding4brains
      
      Lion
      
      Hi Ferdy, when assigning the ID to Lisa's 2nd image of this species just now I noticed three spelling variants for Euborellia moesta are in the system:
      Euborellia moesta (correct)
      Euborrelia moesta
      Euborrellia moesta
      (if memory serves)
      Is that by design (search for misspelled names?) or relics of something else? Posted 7 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        hi Arp, with "in the system" do you mean the dropdown list in the ID dialog when you type the name? If so, then yes, this list will show every variation people have searched for that has led to a species match, including misspellings. Posted 7 years ago
      2. Pudding4brains
        
        Lion
        
        Yes, that is what I mean, so all's well:o) Posted 7 years ago
3. Flown Kimmerling
  
  Lion
  
  Many thanks for all of the information and the ID. I agree completely! I hesitated to choose that ID due to that range! I will work on contacting those experts!
  
  My apologies for not getting back to you sooner! I have not been at my laptop all day due to a back injury and doctor appointment (unrelated to the injury lol). Posted 7 years ago
4. 1. Pudding4brains
    
    Lion
    
    Apologies?? *LOL* - silly woman :o) But I hope your back and other complaints will cease to bother you soon ... Posted 7 years ago, modified 7 years ago
  2. 1. Flown Kimmerling
      
      Lion
      
      Thanks, Arp! It has just been a very stressful week! Posted 7 years ago

The African Earwig

Euborellia cincticollis (Gerstaecker, 1883) is a species of earwig in the family Anisolabididae. It is thought to be a native African species, that was introduced to the Americas probably around 1946.

Info 3 0

Similar species: Earwigs

Species identified by Pudding4brains