Earwigs make up the
insect order Dermaptera and are found throughout the
Americas,
Africa,
Eurasia,
Australia and
New Zealand. With about 2,000
species in 12
families, they are one of the smaller insect orders. Earwigs have characteristic
cerci, a pair of
forceps pincers on their abdomen, and membranous
wings folded underneath short , hence the scientific order name, "skin wings." Some groups are tiny parasites on mammals and lack the typical pincers. Earwigs rarely use their flying ability.