01 April 2011

Labia minor have large pincers

We see earwigs all the time on milkweed plants when we're searching for Monarch butterfly eggs.
"The forceps (pincer) at the animal's tail are used to help unfurl the wings, in preparation for flight... Labia minor feeds on decaying plant material and other detritus. In cooler climates, it is only found in warm places, such as actively decaying compost heaps, and are most often encountered when turning the compost. Unusually for an insect, there is extensive maternal care of the eggs and offspring, with the mother feeding them for a week or two after they hatch."
Photo from BugGuide.

Not to be confused with labia minora.

2 comments:

  1. wow, yeah i definitely read labia minora. if it was, that picture does not go well!

    ReplyDelete
  2. As a woman, I'm really glad you clarified that.

    ReplyDelete

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