Shore Earwig vs North African Bombardier Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Shore Earwig North African Bombardier Beetle
Scientific Name Anisolabis littorea Brachinus humeralis
Order Dermaptera Coleoptera
Family Anisolabididae Carabidae
Size 20-28 mm 8-12 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Heathland
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Oceania North Africa, Southern Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Shore Earwig

A large wingless earwig native to New Zealand, found under stones and driftwood on rocky coasts. It has a shiny black body and stout cerci.

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Did You Know?

This earwig is highly adapted to coastal life and can survive being submerged by waves during high tide.

North African Bombardier Beetle

A bombardier beetle found in North Africa and the Mediterranean basin. It has a reddish-brown head and thorax with dark blue-black elytra.

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Did You Know?

Like other bombardier beetles it can fire its chemical spray in rapid pulses of up to 500 times per second.