Japanese Ice Crawler vs African Earwig

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Ice Crawler African Earwig
Scientific Name Galloisiana nipponensis Forficula senegalensis
Order Grylloblattodea Dermaptera
Family Grylloblattidae Forficulidae
Size 20-25 mm 10-16 mm
Habitat Mountains Woodlands
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions Asia East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia)
Conservation Vulnerable Least Concern

Japanese Ice Crawler

A nocturnal wingless insect found at high elevations in Japan. One of the most primitive living insects, often called a living fossil from the Permian period.

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Did You Know?

Ice crawlers are considered living fossils — their order dates back to the Permian period, 250 million years ago, before the dinosaurs evolved.

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.

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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.