What Do Earwigs Do With Those Pincers Anyway? | Deep Look

Earwigs are equipped with some pretty imposing pincers on their rear, and they're not afraid to use them. But when it comes to these appendages, size isn't everything.
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Many animals seem to show a preference for symmetry in a potential mate. It can be a clue that the mate has the genes necessary to develop properly and thrive in an environment full of stresses and dangers.
But in some critters buck the trend. Like the earwig, a diminutive insect found on every continent except Antarctica.
Andrew ZInk, an associate professor of biology at San Francisco State University, has been looking at how symmetry affects earwigs success when it comes to social interactions.
He’s studying maritime earwigs, a larger and more powerful cousin to the common European earwig you might find in your backyard. Both creatures bear fearsome looking pincers on their backsides. And they aren’t afraid to use them to defend themselves. Zink knows all about that.
--- Do earwigs climb into your ear?
The quick answer is no. Earwigs are not interested in climbing into your ear to lay their eggs or otherwise. They’re no more likely than any other bug to accidentally find its way into you ear. The name earwig come from the old english words for ear and insect. It may have been named after the shape of the common European earwig’s wings, which when extended resemble a human ear.
--- Do earwigs pinch people?
Earwigs will use their pincers to defend themselves, but the pinch is typically not strong enough to be considered dangerous.
--- Do earwigs fly?
Male common European earwigs have wings and can fly to disperse and find mates. Females do not have wings or fly. Neither male nor female maritime earwigs have wings or fly.
--- What do earwigs eat?
Most earwigs are scavengers and omnivores. In addition to scavenging and eating plants, the common European earwigs also hunts small prey like aphids. Maritime earwigs are carnivorous hunting smaller arthropods like sand hoppers.
---+ Read the entire article on KQED Science:
ww2.kqed.org/s...
---+ For more information:
Biologists probe asymmetric warfare between earwigs
news.sfsu.edu/...
Asymmetric Forceps Increase Fighting Success among Males of Similar size in the Maritime Earwig
onlinelibrary....
Sexual selection by the seashore: the roles of body size and weaponry in mate choice and competition in the maritime earwig (Anisolabis maritima)
viyengar.clasit...
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#deeplook #earwig #pincers

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Looks like there are lots of questions about how exactly male earwigs with more asymmetric pincers to their advantage during fights.According to Muñoz and Zink, earwigs slide the straighter side under their opponent and then bring down the the tip of their more curved side onto the top of their opponent’s abdomen. So instead of just grabbing their opponent, they are now poking them with the point of that curved side. Sometimes they apply enough pressure to actually penetrate their opponent’s abdomen, which is usually a fatal injury. There are illustrations in the scientific article. www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Asymmetric-forceps-increase-fighting-success-among-Munoz-Zink/8d04ce84806b1e4da666fdbc0256c425235c92c1/figure/2

[@glaus7593]

Deep Look you have a new subscriber greetengs from Romania

[@hutchtv7640]

Deep Look yeah, just like a prison shanking I'd say

[@hutchtv7640]

Deep Look cool video, first time on your channel tbh....... I'll be back, interesting.... thanks!

[@Taylor-xh8uh]

I actually like cutting off an earwigs pinchers

[@MsPmonkey]

Taylor Leger animal abuse. Kappa.

[@hilariousskullnamedcatzo647]

I like how they have the decency to make sure to fight someone their own size

[@Rui301]

Not that romantic when its just the little ones realizing they dont stand a chance vs a bigger one.

[@kellydalstok8900]

They don’t want to waste energy either.

[@lightningwight4154]

Most insects do this. Their fighting style usually means the larger one will win, so if there is an obvious size advantage, there is no need to fight.

[@Gamerkat10]

Bug honor system...

[@bennybongosbigolebonanza894]

@@Rui301yeah, yet it requires the bigger one letting them leave, no?

[@serbiancrusader7813]

Earwigs want nothing to do with your ears. Sounds like something an Earwig would say

[@tangytablets5150]

Serbian Crusader the secret council of earwigs are using their tech to pose as humans and lull us into leaving our ears open

[@cynicaloptimist970]

KILL'EM ALL!!!

[@krashdown102]

was just trying to sleep and felt one crawling behind my ear :/ tearing whole room apart now

[@laurentulis4129]

krashdown102 my old next door neighbors used to say that earwigs crawled into their ears, laid eggs, and my neighbors had to go to the doctor to get those eggs removed from their ears

[@krashdown102]

Lauren Tulis well that’s not good :o

[@clerivaldojunior4465]

"Hey mate, are ya gonna stand right there or we'll fight?" "Hold on let me turn around."

[@rat_united_2540]

"Ya ima do the same"

[@alternkam5195]

U guys 😂

[@nateb4543]

"Who said that?'

[@mrkiky]

Earwig: Don't turn your front on me, coward!

[@vinvent9906]

Most Insects: I will tear my opponent in half, feast on their insides and use their hollow corpse as a cradle for my offspring Earwigs: If I squish him harder then he sqishes me he'll go away. only if we're evenly matched tho, wouldn't want the match to be unfair

[@ragnoxten4158]

That would be more of a male/female comparison

[@TheArtzyAnimal]

I had a pet cricket and introduced her to a male and she ate him alive

[@NaqrSeranvis]

Yes, if they are not evenly matched, the smaller one gives up without a fight.

[@jackman5840]

@@NaqrSeranvis And the larger one has no punishment for the little one like many other insects would do. Basically they don't start the fight anyway, they are smart enough to know one will just give up and go.

[@pepebeezon772]

????? Most intra-species fights are ritualistic and not meant to inflict mortal wounds

[@alexbelle3941]

When KZbin recommendations explains a childhood curiosity that you forgot you had.

[@ICCUWANSIUT]

I never forgot. This question still plagued me until today, I didn't even know what they were called haha.

[@rickwilliams967]

Touch one, you'll find out what they're for really quick

[@Stroud87]

A few years ago, we started getting earwigs in our house. My wife was freaking out until I explained to her that they don't actually go in your ears. A few weeks went by, and I woke up around 2AM one morning with a sharp pain in my ear. I started panicking as I could hear something moving around. Ten minutes later, after nearly ripping my ear off, I finally felt it and pulled it out. Sure enough it was a big ole' earwig. I had to go to the doctor the next morning and get ear drops. He said my eardrum was bleeding from it cutting me up with its pincers. Earwigs are no more likely to go in your ear than any other bug, but that doesn't mean that they can't. Haha We had a pest control company come out immediately.

[@xl000]

Did it happen though

[@mayhewfisher62]

OMG. that is a true nightmare

[@poochiew.9302]

@@xl000 I've killed them in my bed before, so it isn't too far fetched.

[@pickleman40]

Happend to me twice as a kid, although they were only in my ear lobe. Dont be like my uselss parents, take care of your property around your house

[@warbaby5490]

I was told earwigs got the name "earwig" because farmers found them in the silk ( or wig) on ears of corn. I've grown corn and know that you find them there quite often.

[@Ranstone]

Have you seen the ear-wigs from Hammerfell? They have curved pincers! Curved! Pincers!

[@brainer5457]

Stop! You violated the law. Pay the court a fine or serve your sentence. Your stolen goods are now forfeit.

[@CrimsonSandBoa]

You're my favorite kind of person. Thank you.

[@Steven-dm8cz]

Disgusting creatures. I hear the high elves train them.

[@kinroga]

No wonder they got pushed under ground after the war

[@ShailSingh-ml8kj]

Kick Saunders

[@theCodyReeder]

I’ve been pinched by them before, it hurts more than you’d think.

[@zohanthecat]

It really does hurt. Surprisingly. Short lived pain but intense.

[@hexmaniacgabby5160]

Cody'sLab Thank you for answering one of my longest questions. I always jokingly poked them but didn't really want to find out if it hurt. I've been bit by a cricket and it tickles and hurts mildy. I'm assuming this is worse.

[@Hauptseite]

Never been pinched by them in my life, but I was always careful around them because I didn't want to find out the hard way. Thank you for confirming my suspicions, mate. You took one for the team and it will not go to waste.

[@abcdefghijklmn836]

When I was a child I was playing with them and got pinched on the back of my hand a few times. Didn't hurt me once, but is disgusting when I think about it now.

[@ghostman7578]

I love the videos you make Cody

[@zoushaomenohu]

Another function of the pincers is they help them fold their wings! Their wings fold up like origami into tight little elytra on their upper back and they're iridescent. They don't often use them given how much time they spend underground. I've heard people call them "secret angel wings" because of how pretty they are when unfolded!

[@ee-cu6mg]

their... what? 😰

[@zoushaomenohu]

@@ee-cu6mg Their beautiful wings! 😍

[@artdyke]

**Me googling this** Huh. They ARE gorgeous!

[@clark4041]

This is absolutely true! The Western earwigs have functional wings hidden underneath their little golden-colored “vests” on their backs.

[@roberts7107]

She lies! She says "earwigs are not interested in your ears, they just want a place to hide out". YES, in your ears!!!

[@mechasentai]

They pull your brains out through your ear with those pincers!

[@johannadesousa989]

o_o

[@mattmacd2009]

@Aidan Snyder yes they do. I've personally had the pleasure of a night time 'ear visitation' from one of these little monsters. Thought it was a myth, now i stomp them on sight. Google it, the names they've given around the world, most involve 'ear' & something else horrible. The Germans call them 'earworms'.

[@robrodriguez9243]

🤣🤣🤣

[@rhunter42dragon]

@@mechasentai (Sigh) No they don't. That's just a myth.

[@Bloom_HD]

"Hey, let's make these 2 earwigs fight eachother!" "Splendid idea! That will give us insight on how the shape of their pincers affects their prowess" "Uuuhhh, yeah... Exactly! That's precisely what I wanted to do!"

[@DJDeezyThaTruth]

Bloom HD - 2 Ear enter, one Ear leave 😩 #EarwigBattledome

[@Dude-1887]

@@DJDeezyThaTruth ear wig thunderdome

[@RobMacKendrick]

They could save a lot of money and just hire 10-year-olds.

[@tobias5067]

The best part of this is the fact those scientists would have needed to run earwig battles dozens of times before drawing conclusions. There is an earwig fighting tournament that I demand to see!

[@Trener_Artem]

When i was a kid, this monstrosity fallen right from the roof into my ear. No kidding. It ran around in it for 3 secs, then ran away with little help from me. I was terrified.

[@TypeKK]

Bruh That's some nightmare

[@graciliraptor3990]

This reminds me: we were chilling outdoors and my dad and sister laid down on the grass, there were ants, the redish ants with longer legs than the regular smol black ants, and I was scared to join them because of the ants, but after they insisted that I join them and that there was nothing to fear I laid down as well, not even 5 minutes later my ear felt ticklish and I inserted my finger to itch it, felt something inside, thought my ear was just dirty, when I looked back at my finger there was a destroyed ant on it T-T I'm sure both the ant and I would've preferred not to go through that, ugh.

[@a_diamond]

"So what did you do in the lab today?" "I got earwigs to fight... Repeatedly..."

[@kaianimatesyt]

Earwigs: **Practically harmless** Me who's seen earwigs in my bed for the 7th time: *I'm gonna stop you right there-*

[@mareksicinski3726]

i mean yeah you get in their business they get in yours

[@NotCharAznable]

Sounds like you got a pest problem lol

[@kcrowther14]

🤣

[@raven5048]

I got bit in my bed by one... Only one

[@UnicowBoySlots]

0:33 “really, they just want to hide out” YEAH…In your EAR!!!!

[@Glory_voyage]

"Earwigs are not interested in your ear they just wanna hide out” YES IN MY MY EAR

[@Iconoclasher]

Earwigs have another genetic quirk. Here in Riverside County California, I've seen some with wings. Maybe three in the last twenty years. They aren't in the class of hymenoptera, so there's no queens. Apparently it's a recessive gene that occasionally shows up. I have observed that trait works to their evolutionary disadvantage. The ones with wings are out flying about, having fun, partying, drinking and showing off.... right where they become easy prey for birds and other predators. The preferred wingless Earwigs are hiding under rocks, out of sight from predators.

[@pasha-ly4ss]

interesting

[@acupofcoffee9082]

I live in central oregon and I have see quite a few with wings but have never seen them fly. I carefully squished one as to not destroy the wings and they do look fully functional (I'm obviously by no sense of the word an expert). We have a huge "problem" with them where I live since we are in a valley and have springs underground which always mean moist dirt for them and as much as I hate the little things they are pretty fascinating.

[@Bombur888]

Most species do have wings, and they can actually fly! They just don't do it that often. The wings are carefuly folded beneath their very short elytra, and in some species, the folding job is even another use of the cerci.

[@KamenRiderSilver]

Earwigs in my area have one for all

[@qevvy]

They are, very likely, named "earwigs" for the peculiar shape of their hindwings.

[@rosegold973]

So they fight with their butts ._.

[@davidshi451]

And how!

[@reves3333]

"MY BUTTS ARE BIGGER THEN YOURS!"

[@jacktailssonplays4833]

Rose Gold At least the females don't judge butts unlike males do

[@notconvincedgranny6573]

Battle butts instead of battle bots.

[@rosegold973]

notconvincedgranny 😂😂 good one!

[@thomasharris7702]

"but size isn't everything" what your girl said but never meant.

[@AwesomeRara]

It’s not the size it’s how curved to one side it is and how they use it ayyyyyyy

[@snailnslug3]

I like when my girl says its huge and we both start laughing cause its not. But it feels good to hear it :-)

[@cwimescene]

@@snailnslug3 what girl

[@alexspalding4945]

Also how curved things are

[@bigshepherd3127]

@Rory YT what grills actually talk?!?!

[@Carnit_asss]

3:24 My face when my teacher gives me my test and I failed.

[@thatonecaryouwant]

"Bruh are you serious?"

[@randomgaming667]

@@thatonecaryouwant What? It was funny

[@aaronmarks9366]

Perfect

[@zinxler7631]

3:27 Teacher:Haha Get noob

[@tiny_marksman0467]

I'm dead

[@emilye615]

That crawling sound effect they use legit sounds like someones fingering spaghetti

[@mechasentai]

Eeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!! Lol

[@unfathomable1876]

The fact that you know what that sounds like concerns me.

[@styromaniac6967]

>Implying it's not the actual sound Ever heard ants crawl?

[@sebastiann.8088]

I bet the spaghetti likes it though ;)

[@mandy2917]

I can’t unhear that now ugh

[@BunjiKugashira42]

I love how scientists made the equivalent of a rooster fight with earwigs and got away with it because they wrote a paper about it. I wonder if they gave the earwigs ring names and bet money on them.

[@Doc_Fun]

The difference being that the only thing typically injured in an earwig fight is pride.

[@megancornelius9237]

We literally have our kids do wrestling matches, if you heard they DONT fight to the death.

[@ph1ll1p]

@@megancornelius9237 I bet you are fun at parties

[@zacharytracy3797]

⁠@@ph1ll1phe’s supporting earwig fighting and sports. I think he’s alright

[@ieuanhunt552]

As adam savage would say. The only difference between playing around and science is you wirte it down

[@aonghusofaolain8686]

I sleep the way I do because of earwigs! As a child I was so paranoid of one crawling into my ear that I started to sleep face down - one ear on the pillow and the other covered by pulling the blanket up over the back of my shoulder and tucking it in beside my neck/jaw and ear of course All this because one DID crawl into my dad's ear! A moth also crawled into his ear one time as well. I remember us as a family trying to get it out for him... Good times

[@MysteryD]

1:47 "They size each other up. If they're evenly matched, its on." So, even bugs will only fight bugs their own size. More than you can say for a lot of humans.

[@narukami597]

That's because the smaller bugs know their place and accept defeat without fighting unlike humans.

[@thatvolvoguy6565]

Naru Kami true but alot of big dudes fight small dudes for no reason

[@davidlape9213]

ComputerNoises Nature for the most part has a sense of balance to it. Humans not so much.

[@Sleksin]

Well, it's more of the smaller ones just run off before a fight, while humans like to dispute it a bit more. The big ones will still essentially bully smaller ones.

[@zohanthecat]

Bugs don't drink alcohol. It's obviously the difference.

[@Viveka_Norge]

Imagine getting paid to have two ear wigs duke it out. That’s like something a group of men in Thailand would be betting on in some James Bond movie or whatever

[@wagonerjam]

Plot twist: An earwigg simpathiser made this video.

[@alkohallick2901]

*earwig, *sympathizer

[@lozD83]

Not sure how that's a plot twist, but sure

[@freshcat0297]

When you spell it with 2 G's it sounds like a mad scientist lol

[@cslack813]

An ear-Whig if you would

[@YaoEspirito]

Booooo. Weak, dude.

[@JAnx01]

"Earwigs want nothing to do with your ears." I killed an earwig once when he was about to enter my ear.

[@a_diamond]

Rephrase.. it isn't particularly looking to go into ears.. they are trying to hide, and it might look like an emergency hidey-hole to them.. They don't realize it's part of the creatures they are trying to hide from...

[@scrumpus8938]

@slapypenguins101 IT WAS GOING INTO HIS EAR

[@peaceonearth351]

Did you wig out? lol

[@virtualmilkers1747]

@Alicia P sounds like anxiety, what if it goes in your nose hole instead?

[@mareksicinski3726]

@Alicia P lol are you also scared of ants in ur ear?

[@mr.cicada2773]

I have a pet one of those, although he recently died of “old age” he was so freakin cute. Rip joey

[@talaset6208]

Awe, how old.?

[@ARtorNot8]

Mr. Cicada you had a pet earwig?

[@xcaluhbration]

@@ARtorNot8 🤣

[@nina3538]

Cute 😆

[@dragonballzkai9283]

Joey went to earwig heaven

[@lembread]

“Go to the shoreline...” *Y-You mean the shower...?*

[@a_literalrat1096]

?

[@darkithnamgedrf9495]

those arent maritime earwigs in there

[@psycoticanubis]

"Earwigs want nothing to do with your ears." then why did I find one behind my ear when I was 7 years old playing in my neighbours back yard?

[@mareksicinski3726]

same reason you'd find an ant or beetle there lol?

[@zackhorker210]

One time at a park, I was curious about what was under these 2 white cylinders pipe thingies protruding in pairs of two near a tree, I decided "Hmmmm, why not lift one of the covers of one of the white cylinders up?" So I did and to my absolute horror, it was literally JAMMED packed with hundreds of earwigs and I closed the lid faster then you could get out of school for summer break! Having a huge fear of earwigs didn't help either!

[@NintCondition]

I watched this video to find out if they pinch humans and if it hurts. I don't feel like testing it out but do you know the answer?

[@aarontheperson6867]

@@NintCondition It barely hurts, but it won't draw blood or anything. Don't worry about it.

[@Mr.Crawlyo]

@@aarontheperson6867 unless the fucer is frickin huge because it fuccin drank gamer girl bathwater then that's when they can use enough force to almost sever a finger if you let them.

[@alexcarter8807]

@@NintCondition They can't pinch very hard.

[@sthao1733]

@@NintCondition i use the catch the european variety in my mom's garden as a kid. you can feel the pinch but it doesnt hurt. thats also how you catch them by grabbing the pincers.

[@theendergamer3194]

Imagine getting into a fight with somebody then looking them in the eye while you both have a battle with butts.

[@doomslayer1210]

There’s an anime about that

[@quill7889]

@@doomslayer1210 uh, wut

[@graciliraptor3990]

@@doomslayer1210 I need answers

[@chrisbouvey]

As a man, I feel a lot more confidant with myself after watching this video.

[@Groteskfull]

I think as men, we can all feel better about certain body parts hanging asymmetrically.

[@zestysupreme9482]

Do you duel with crooked pincers?

[@nicnic6797]

@@zestysupreme9482 your comment made me spit my soup everywhere. 10/10 hahahaha

[@kolynchiasson6432]

3:18 This guy is like oh yeah this new place is pretty co- 0_0

[@memphisdaniels3218]

More like ⁰00⁰ 😅

[@kolynchiasson6432]

@@memphisdaniels3218 Very true, memphisdaniels3218.

[@mwerkeller1872]

I read "what do earrings do with those piercings anyways?".

[@Radbiker33357]

Mwer Keller you should probs get your eyes checked

[@faudanke4459]

Haha same

[@kaiser5689]

What do those eyes do with reading ?

[@HoLeeSheet117]

Radbiker33357 sorry it happens when you read too fast fyi

[@Beyond_Leon]

Mwer Keller same

[@para_momal]

Awww, Lucas the spider is doing cameos now....

[@Oatsys]

Para Momal Hahahahahha

[@KQEDDeepLook]

You can see the rest of our jumping spider episode here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2jUfqR3nKikg6c

[@rainevermore4683]

I don't know why I laughed at the female spider looking down on him XD

[@khonsuthecore4788]

Have we named him now?

[@para_momal]

Khonsu the Core There is an adorable cartoon called "Lucas the Spider" here on KZbin. I highly suggest anyone check it out, even if you're terrified of spiders.

[@LovingAtlanta]

😩When you click because you’re curious but immediately start itching.

[@LovingAtlanta]

+ jacojami850 ANN - 👍You’re lucky 😃

[@LovingAtlanta]

+ jacojami850 ANN - 👍They’re the worst! 😩

[@AztecMae]

LovingAtlanta eww

[@lemonking3793]

immediately got that feeling like something was crawling up and down my back and neck.

[@xenenlighten7970]

*shudder* I can feel it on my leg

[@daywalker3735]

"That's it, let's fight! Turn around!!!!"

[@TheTechnoHash]

I was wondering like an hour ago where is your new video and here you are. Thank you!

[@katykipling]

These are so cool, one of my favorite nature segments on KZbin. The only thing I would love even more, was if they were a bit longer.

[@katykipling]

Susan Kay I don’t think I know any kid/teenager, that would be watching any educational video on KZbin, when they could be watching Jake Paul. (Sad, I know. I was always into nature and animals growing up; now it seems most kids are just concerned about money & ‘dabbing on them haters.’) With KZbins algorithm though, it actually shows that videos between 8-15 minutes are most watched, and get the most out of their revenue system. That’s why if you look at pewdiepie or other bigger youtuber’s videos, they are all around that same length. I’ve actually made this comment before and pbs responded by saying that they were happy to hear how much I and others enjoyed the channel and they would try and extend future videos if possible. So that was pretty cool. 😊

[@spamlord7570]

Kipling dont u know me im a kid and my life is science astronomy and physics

[@mehrschwein7378]

so you want something a little bit longer?...

[@lugi25]

I agree, usually dislike insects but these, I have alot where I live, are pretty cool insects who aren't as pesky and annoying as ants or roaches.

[@AegisAuras]

When I was a kid I used to think they were called earwigs because they would crawl in your ear and pincer your brain.

[@mohammedalhammadi9934]

So they are twerk fighting......

[@galaxy_waffles8189]

XD

[@deathserpent9747]

Keijo

[@Lauren-lq7rh]

*r/woooooooshhhh*

[@minkoil00]

Ya like only on a rare occasion do they die from the twerking battle

[@anitagarcia6916]

😂😂😂

[@FermentedGrumpyGrapeSqueezit]

"Earwigs just want to hide out" Yea in my ear

[@thend4427]

Lol

[@memphisdaniels3218]

Be thankful they are not called Buttwigs... 😶😯🥴

[@zachb8012]

I used to dislike earwigs but I the more I learn about them the more interesting they become. Earwigs are actually fantastic mothers! They care for their young until they're nearly adults, cleaning, feeding, and protecting them from predators. Incredibly rare behavior as far as bugs go, it's hard not to like an insect with that much personality. I love this channel!

[@JanJan-uf9mv]

I have a question though. Why do they go into the ears of people

[@grawlixTV]

@@JanJan-uf9mvbrain tasty yum yum, ear cozier than nose

[@MilannesaNapolitana]

"Let's compare sizes!" -Earwigs meeting eachother

[@definitelynotfbi119]

These things make me want to join "Rico's Roughnecks" and take the fight to the bugs.

[@mareksicinski3726]

why?

[@GaryDunion]

@@mareksicinski3726 Would you like to know more?

[@neonknight8183]

@@GaryDunion my god that is a golden moment in comment history

[@thesorrow4664]

Nice

[@thesorrow4664]

@@GaryDunion Well done

[@opoponaxfreetoshus296]

Why can't I find a nice guy with asymmetric pincers???

[@theidiotcure]

Wanna mate?

[@kutry]

@Andrew Jackson lol

[@KCrispyINDO]

hey

[@wizardcat7654]

Answering the title........ they haunt your nightmares

[@gooboi8317]

True

[@mustafaamin9516]

Ad Victoriam my man

[@julissasailormercury6738]

Zach 😂

[@miggyo.2235]

I blew you up the minute I met you

[@madcap3450]

A nightmare that can be killed by one spritz of soapy water

[@zoe-mt4xk]

I love earwigs. They used to freak me out but once I picked one up to bring outside and weirdly enough it reminded me of my guineapig. They’re very curious and timid. I had to force him onto my hand and he wasn’t excited. He never tried to bite me or hurt me in anyway he was just exploring my bracelets until I brought him outside and he walked onto a bush immediately which is a problem I have with mothes. Once I pick them up they never want to leave. I wouldn’t actively seek out to hold one again but they weren’t as scary as I thought they would be. 8/10 because I had horrible goose bumps the entire time

[@stardefenderxgamer4232]

I've been lied to for my whole life..... About the ears

[@ShibaInuMochi]

AlexTheStar XGamer I was told they crawl into your ears and eat the insides and live there...

[@Dargonhuman]

To be fair, most earwigs like dark, moist, confined spaces, which is a perfect description of our ear canals, so if they find themselves trapped on a bed with little in the way of good cover options, they have a tendency to mistake our ears as safe burrows to hide out in until a better option presents itself.

[@stardefenderxgamer4232]

Dargonhuman oh I didn't know that I guess they were good for ears

[@narukami597]

I thought you were talking about how females don't care whether your pincer is a bit crooked.

[@kamikaze10anims85]

Same, I was told that they get inside your ear and lay eggs there.

[@fendularatsq2317]

so females are straight and males are not?

[@aydentran5987]

As far as pincers go, yeah

[@archravenineteenseventeen]

when they friendzone

[@T_M_E_8]

The guys go around pinching each other’s butts, can you blame them?

[@onepunchben]

That cockroach startled me! So strange that I can see this earwig and feel nothing, but the cockroach scared me. It is a fear deeply instilled in me, I guess.

[@CaptainPIanet]

That is very interesting

[@Bigb00bs_umchileanywaysso]

SAME!!!!

[@bigasssimp7468]

Same, I couldn’t look straight at the screen

[@OjaioFansub]

I can look at almost any bug but cockroaches make me gag

[@billyarcade4002]

Don't ever move to Las Vegas than.You would be terrified.

[@pimpompoom93726]

Earwigs are really common right now, it must be their favorite time of year.

[@LPMBMLPM]

Bruh I find one in my kitchen almost every night june through August it's pretty annoying honestly

[@elliettemaloney7659]

“Earwigs are not interested in your ears” sounds like something an earwig would say...

[@olivebranch7769]

Stolen comment.

[@suzysheep1776]

@@olivebranch7769 yup.

[@RaymondLo84]

3:45 that's what she said too...

[@austin529]

I had an earwig pinch me so hard that the pincers got stuck inside my finger. I was screaming waving my hand for a whole minute before the neighborhood sprinted out of their house to see if I was okay, the they pulled it out. Unfortunately I was 15.

[@JazzFlop212]

I get the feeling you think this is a lot funnier than it is

[@garretthigginbotham6122]

Austin haha sure

[@ewcho8995]

When you major in comedy but still can’t find a job.

[@account4info]

I learned real fast when I was a kid to check the inside of my shoes before I put them on.

[@NorthSouthEast]

I got pinched by one when I was 3 and it hurt bad. Until I read ur post I thought I was the only one who ever had that happen.

[@PatrickMobileHomes]

I've been waiting my whole life to hear that.

[@youtubethree6570]

3:08 "more access to females"😏.. now that's more convincing😂

[@denisethasder8193]

Earwigs just want to be earrings ;(

[@JustinRed624]

Denise Thasder Coyote from brave wilderness did something similar!

[@dulcer4734]

Or wigs for your ears

[@MegaNightmarewolf]

You know, they'd make some pretty neat earrings

[@michael-k.]

Justin R. Your the cousin of Justin Y.

[@dusterdude238]

"she wore earwigs for earrings. and people thought her quite strange" HA HA

[@nikiTricoteuse]

Oh goodie. Clicked on this thinking it would make me less afraid of them, and now l discover they're even at the seaside! 😬

[@lnetzul]

at first I thought these were pretty creepy. but finding out they have brawls to assert dominance without having to kill each other changed my mind, these are very cool!

[@sadiealvarez526]

I used to (and still) call it a *pincher bug*

[@LnmHive]

In brazil we call it Tesourinha which means Little Scissors :D

[@hanzifaction]

I wish females didn't care if my pinchers were croaked! 😭

[@jasonspeer6864]

hanzifaction everyone’s are crooked to one side or another there is no straight one for humans lol

[@eidolor]

At least with three elbows I can pinch behind coroners

[@tyrantonion6660]

At least you have the competitive advantage...

[@typingcat]

As long as you do not do "pincher fights" with other males...

[@smakyakproductions4466]

What are you even trying to say?

[@scoodoobada]

I really dont mind them until they start walking towards me even when I move my feet like bro hold up

[@damienj25]

I recently decided to research the Earwig, and I’m glad to confirm they’re more interesting than I could have ever imagined! Fun fact: a scientist went through about 10 centuries of literature and only found a single report about an earwig actually entering an ear.

[@eewilson9835]

Fun fact: by the time a driving under the influence is issued by authorities, they figure the drunk driver was caught on average the 8th time they were unlawfully driving under the influence. Now, imagine an ear canal that started to itch on said driver.

[@emperorpalpatine2184]

They clip your ears with them.

[@armymedic_bnw]

I actually keep a colony in a modified container on my desk. FASCINATING little critters. I've even observed my males helping with eggs. Great moms too! They care for their babies through the 1st 2 molts.😊

[@WeeWeeJumbo]

There's exactly one thing about insects that I just can't stand, and I go all phobic about: the sound they make when they move. Aw god. Make it stop. That noise. Help

[@professor0w052]

They never make that noise in real life. The sound artists in videos featuring bugs create that sound to give it a more in depth and realistic feel.

[@Vysair]

Ibeliz Velez I think their microphone are just that good

[@Vysair]

WeeWeeJumbo are you sure it's not the leg and shape?

[@shumoko]

IRL ya can't hear it, but for vidyas, they got two methods: A: fake noise used via crinkling wrapping paper or other similar such noise making methods B: actually using a specialized super sensitive mic in a controlled room with noise reduction padding on the walls.

[@Scythemantis]

Like others here have said....that sound is usually fake!!

[@NewMessage]

Whenever I see that GoT character now, I'll think of bug butt.

[@theoregonguy]

Wait, so if the cerci are modified legs, does this mean that some insects have 8 legs? This would mean the old rule of thumb that insects have 6 legs is false.

[@Hexarth]

They were modified a loooong time ago, we're talking paleozoic. cerci were legs at one point, just like every single other limb an arthropod has.

[@pierreabbat6157]

They're as much legs as antennae are. "Cerci" means "tails" (Greek κερκοι).

[@archravenineteenseventeen]

today. we have females with cerci in their front

[@martind349]

They are such old technology the extra legs stick around because of causality efficiency.

[@KP3droflxp]

If you count all modified limbs together an insect would have 16 "legs". There are the antennae, the mandibels, maxilles the labium, normal legs, and cerci.

[@calebpearl1057]

One time I felt something in my mouth, and was quite horrified when I took out a live earwig. I still have no idea how it got there.

[@LOOMING_WRAITH_OF_BAD_OMEN]

Funny that this came up when I caught an earwig earlier today and wondered what the pincer things were for...

[@calebshade4991]

It’s a conspiracy

[@32shumble]

Google is monitoring your thoughts

[@dede9806]

It's an earwig conspiracy to monitor your thoughts for the cockroaches of the government..

[@Mortthemoose]

Freaky little critters! I've been watching two families of Earwigs in my hedgehog house this year. They seem like really good parents. The young seem to grow really slowly, and they've stayed together as families right through the year.

[@slushiebonez]

My mom hates earwigs I AM GOING TO SEND HER THIS

[@_Crossiant_Perception_]

Have fun sleeping out in the yard :)

[@mlord3607]

Marvel is life 🤣🤣🤣

[@Andy-413]

I picked up an earwig once when I was somewhere around 8 years old, it used it's pincers on my finger and actually drew blood. That was the last time I picked up an earwig.

[@jackochainsaw]

I avoid them too, similar experience when I was young.

[@01gtbdaily30]

My son and I also battle using our back ends, we call it battle farts . Sometimes he wins on sound but I almost always use my age and experience to win the battle with overall odour .

[@robertodaggis7244]

And then the wife beats you both down with a "Silent but violent" 😂🤢

[@LordMarvin1993]

I have always wondered where Cersei got her name from

[@AnkhAnanku]

I, too, was absolutely tickled to learn this

[@etmax1]

I'm not sure winning those battles help in territorial wars, I've seen earwigs in their 100's all piled up together. They clearly don't mind company

[@xdragon2k]

You mean you just found a harem of earwigs.

[@etmax1]

You have me intrigued now, I will find a so called "harem" and see whether they're largely male, female or somewhat evenly mixed. Watch this space.

[@etmax1]

Sorry, had pneumonia for a week then laid up with gastro and finally 1 week in hospital for internal bleeding. Also it's too wet at the moment to look for earwigs anyway, the place I usually see them congregating is under the bark of trees, in this weather that's too wet. I do want to resolve this but need to be well enough for field work as well as being able to find 100 earwigs in one place.

[@tede2567]

“ but size isn’t everything.” Tell that to my ex maybe she will understand

[@Basementjacks]

Lol i wanted to say they keep the pincers on the back because, people stab you in the back so often that you had to grow one from behind.😑

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Eek!

[@ikouzaki]

Jackie Ciser OOF

[@FlintSparkedStudios]

Jackie Ciser So earwigs really are just putting up emotional barriers is what you're getting at

[@selfishbeats]

FlintSparked more like taking something that was figurative literally.

[@chromaticabberationsgiveme9811]

Jackie Ciser Awww! Who hurt you? :]

[@Paulosucks]

*that closing statement* Bow chika bowow

[@antiantim5541]

Paulo I got that too XD

[@motto25]

the pause right before....crooked

[@hamsacc]

Paulo thats what my baby said

[@hamsacc]

Bow wow wow

[@hamsacc]

And my heart keeps pumping

[@missycitty9478]

Umm, they pinch! Years ago I got pinched by one while driving. And let me tell you, it hurt!! Almost as bad as a bee sting. I freaked. Lol

[@legostarkiller9252]

I love these little guys! Found one in my room and we watched this video together, and then I set him outside to live his life fighting! They are probably some of my favorite bugs, just because of how cool and clean they are.

[@PearCoin124]

plot twist, the one you found went in your ear and a new one came there

[@breannawenke7168]

Fun fact! Earwigs get their name from the shape of their wings! Earwigs have wings that fold over and onto their bodies, much like cockroaches and mantises, but when unfolded they look similar to human ears! The more you know…

[@brandonsing7610]

Who else felt like they were crawling on your body??

[@kurisu7885]

Huh, so they're honorable fighters too.

[@crowdemon_archives]

As long as one doesn't accidentally puncture the other, yea.

[@Rainygirl3100]

Thanks for the clarification. I've always been disgusted and fearful of earwigs because I never knew why they had pincers, but this put me a little more at ease. They still look like terrifying alien spawn, but I will admit they are quite interesting now that I know more about them. Thanks for sharing!

[@AshnakAGQ]

PangoPixel Now you know you just have the wrestle them to get them to go away.

[@Rainygirl3100]

AsʜɴᴀᴋAGQ lol

[@osiris122cf]

Don't let these earwig loving fools fool u they will go in your ear no joke!!!

[@Rainygirl3100]

osiris122cf Spiders will bite you if they feel threatened and wasps will sting if you're close to their nests, but I still find them fascinating. Same for earwigs. I don't have to like them to think they're neat!

[@michaels7566]

As a kid I liked catching them but knew little about them. As a grandfather, now I can teach my grandkids more than I knew. Interesting insects.

[@bipashachakrabortyofficial5315]

"Cerci" Reminds me of game of thrones...

[@dzulisam8778]

2:19 you heard that boys 😆 size is not everything i mean the earwigs 😂

[@Jnanabase]

Aww poor lil earwigs, fighting NOT to the death, they're kinda cute

[@yossarianmnichols9641]

Earwigs eat a lot of things besides smaller insects. Peaches ripening on trees and corn silk on ripening corn are two examples. They only come out at night so birds can't feed on them. You can easily trap them with a plastic container with a few holes drilled in, a little molasses in water, a little yeast, perhaps a little liquid dish detergent.

[@rakuunleraccoon7179]

I wanna become a biologist. Im only 11 but this is helping me so much!!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Wonderful! Glad to hear it, and good luck with your biology career.

[@rakuunleraccoon7179]

Deep Look Thank you so much!! Its honestly inspiring to see someone like you support me!!

[@EvaluateAssimilate]

Rakuun Le Raccoon reach for the stars ✨

[@rakuunleraccoon7179]

Jay Cockerham I will !!!

[@roboticunclephil]

knowing what you want so early in life is a SUPER POWER if you use it right. start acting like a biologist now & never stop learning. remember the worst thing you can do for your future is to doubt it!!!

[@userbosco]

This video was really well made. And although I know these are harmless bugs, after accidentally swallowing a few of them as a lad, I am completely disgusted by them.

[@Golfbob]

How does one accidentally swallow an earwig…?

[@ikemoon127]

Thanks, this made me feel much better about my pincers.

[@geigertec5921]

If you put an earwig in your sibling's ear you can successfully scar them for life, especially it you tell them the bug burrowed into their brain and laid eggs.

[@pallmall5014]

When I was a kid (ten years old), sitting on my front lawn in shorts, I got bit by one of those. It held onto to my inner thigh pretty good. It hurt a lot, lol!

[@LordOfChaos.x]

Those things can barely bite

[@Mote78]

Bit or pinched?

[@0n_Cloud_9]

@@LordOfChaos.x I got pinched by one not so long ago and it does hurt.

[@Lislio]

If the pincers are actually legs.. Does that mean they are arachnids instead of insects?

[@dudev]

No. Arachnids are a group that share an ancestry. An evolutionary similarity doesn't mean creatures are related.

[@vrabiealexandru2755]

l lI ll l__ earwigs are weird. They have practically 8 legs like arachnids, use their abdomens as scorpion tails, slide and go undergound like earworms, and show exoskeletons similar to cockroaches. They are the "platypus" of insects

[@TheF0xskibidbopmmdada]

Wait a minute I always thought the pincers were their head