Pygmy Earwig vs Black Earwig

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pygmy Earwig Black Earwig
Scientific Name Diplatys flavicollis Chelisoches morio
Order Dermaptera Dermaptera
Family Diplatyidae Chelisochidae
Size 6-10 mm 15-20 mm
Habitat Woodlands Farmland
Diet Detritivores Fruit Feeders
Regions Africa, Asia Asia, Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

Black Earwig

A glossy black earwig with reddish legs commonly found in tropical regions. It is often associated with banana plantations and palm trees.

💡

Did You Know?

The black earwig has been spread throughout the tropics via the banana trade and is now pantropical in distribution.