The European earwig: a model species for studying the (early) evolution of social life

• Published in: Insectes sociaux Vol. 72; no. 2; pp. 177 - 192
• Main Authors: Honorio, R., Cheutin, M. –C., Pasquier, L., de Wever, S., Perdereau, E., Villalta, I., Lécureuil, C., Meunier, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.06.2025; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Animal biology; Anthropogenic factors; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Dermaptera; Entomology; Eusociality; Evolution; Forficula auricularia; Human influences; Insects; Juveniles; Knowledge management; Life Sciences; Research Article; Social behavior; Social interactions; Social life & customs; Symbionts; Parental care; Facultatively social; Subsocial; Family life; Precocial species; Dermaptera; parental care; precocial species; facultatively social; family life; subsocial

When we think of social insects, earwigs rarely come to mind. This is perhaps not surprising, as the term ‘social insect’ has often been used in the literature to refer exclusively to ‘eusocial insects’, i.e. ants, termites and certain bees and wasps. However, earwigs show many aspects of social lif...