this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2023
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Mildly Interesting

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

That's where this insect family gets its latin name: Dermaptera, i.e. "skin wing", as the wings are usually hidden under a leathery flap. They also are super complex in the way they unfold from under these flaps.

Also, earwigs are completely harmless and cool and should be left alone. If anything, they can be beneficial in gardens, as they hunt other, harmful insects.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Harmless in the sense that they aren't dangerous, but they are capable of biting. Source: one was in my headphones a few years back and was biting my ear. I initially thought my headphones were just really itchy.

In my headphones!

shudders

I still check my headphones every time before putting them on now

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I guess that's why they call them earwigs