Earwigs are insects that belong to the scientific order Dermaptera, which means "skin wings" in reference to the leathery fore wings that cover their hind wings. The name "earwig" is derived from Old English words meaning "ear beetle" and likely refers to the insect's ear-shaped wings, although earwigs are not beetles. Some earwigs, such as the ring-legged earwig, are wingless, while others have four wings known as tegmina. Earwigs undergo incomplete metamorphosis, which means they develop from egg to nymph to adult, and some species are sexually dimorphic.
Male earwigs have two penises, one facing forward and one facing backward, each about the same length as the earwig's entire body. Some earwig species are giants, with one extinct species described as growing to more than three inches long. Earwigs can release a foul-smelling sulfuric substance when under attack by predators, which can deter some predators but not others. Earwigs are preyed upon by spiders, centipedes, and birds, among others.
There is an earwig species commonly known as the Lesser earwig or small earwig, whose scientific name means "small lip." However, searching for this species online may yield results that are not safe for work, so some resources suggest adding the term "earwig" to the search.
