Approximately 900 species of earwig, ranging from less than a quarter of an inch to an inch and a half in length, are included in
the order Dermaptera. Their most notable physical feature is the menacing pair of cerci protruding from the abdomen. These
forceps, although not an offensive weapon, can deliver a sharp pinch. They may play a part in courtship. In some species, the
female earwig watches over her young before and after they have hatched, an uncommonly social trait among most insects.
