Toothed Earwig vs Humpbacked Mite-hunter

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Toothed Earwig Humpbacked Mite-hunter
Scientific Name Spongovostox ghilianii Scydmaenus hellwigii
Order Dermaptera Coleoptera
Family Forficulidae Staphylinidae
Size 15-25 mm 1-1.5 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions Europe Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Toothed Earwig

A large earwig with heavily toothed forceps found in southern European forests.

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Did You Know?

Its forceps bear multiple teeth along the inner edge for gripping prey.

Humpbacked Mite-hunter

A diminutive scydmaenine rove beetle with a distinctly humped profile and long, clubbed antennae. It specializes in hunting oribatid mites in the micro-habitats of forest floor detritus.

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Did You Know?

To overcome the mite's armor, this beetle first gnaws a small hole in the mite's exoskeleton, then inserts its mandibles to extract the soft tissues inside.