Pygmy Earwig vs American Wasp Xenid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pygmy Earwig American Wasp Xenid
Scientific Name Diplatys flavicollis Xenos peckii
Order Dermaptera Strepsiptera
Family Diplatyidae Xenidae
Size 6-10 mm 3.0-5.0 mm (males)
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Detritivores Parasites
Regions Africa, Asia North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Pygmy Earwig

A tiny tropical earwig with regenerative cerci that can regrow if broken.

💡

Did You Know?

Unlike most earwigs its cerci are segmented and can regenerate after autotomy.

American Wasp Xenid

A parasite of paper wasps in eastern North America, commonly found in Polistes fuscatus colonies. It dramatically alters host wasp behavior.

💡

Did You Know?

Up to 40% of paper wasps in some colonies can be parasitized by this twisted-wing parasite.