African Earwig vs Forestfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Earwig Forestfly
Scientific Name Forficula senegalensis Nemoura cambrica
Order Dermaptera Plecoptera
Family Forficulidae Nemouridae
Size 10-16 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Woodlands Forests
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia) Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

African Earwig

A small, dark brown earwig with distinctive curved cerci (pincers) at the tip of the abdomen. It is nocturnal and hides in dark crevices during the day.

💡

Did You Know?

Mother earwigs exhibit remarkable maternal care, guarding their eggs and cleaning them to prevent fungal infection, then protecting the nymphs after hatching.

Forestfly

A small brown stonefly associated with forested Welsh and British streams. Nymphs have distinctive cervical gills and feed on leaf detritus.

💡

Did You Know?

The species was first described from specimens collected in Wales, giving it the name cambrica.