Small Brown Forestfly vs African Earwig

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Small Brown Forestfly African Earwig
Scientific Name Nemoura avicularis Forficula senegalensis
Order Plecoptera Dermaptera
Family Nemouridae Forficulidae
Size 5-8 mm 10-16 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions Europe East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Small Brown Forestfly

A small brown stonefly of European woodland streams that emerges in spring. Nymphs are detritivores feeding on submerged leaf litter.

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Did You Know?

Adults fold their wings flat over the body like a fan, unlike most stoneflies that fold wings along the sides.

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.