African Earwig vs Weta Piki (Jumping Weta)
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Earwig | Weta Piki (Jumping Weta) |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Forficula senegalensis | Hemiandrus pallitarsis |
| Order | Dermaptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Forficulidae | Anostostomatidae |
| Size | 10-16 mm | 15-25 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Forests |
| Diet | Detritivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia) | Oceania (New Zealand) |
| 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.
Weta Piki (Jumping Weta)
A small ground weta endemic to New Zealand, found in forest leaf litter. It is nocturnal and burrows into the soil during the day. Ground weta are the most species-rich group of weta, with many species still being discovered and described.
Did You Know?
New species of ground weta are still being discovered in New Zealand, with more than 40 species now known, many identified only in the last two decades.