Chelisochidae Explained

Chelisochidae is a family of earwigs^{[1] [2]} whose members are commonly known as black earwigs.^[3] The family contains a total of approximately 96 species, spread across sixteen genera in three subfamilies.^{[4] [5]}

They are primarily located in the more tropical Afrotropical, Australasian, and Oriental realms, even though some species, such as Chelisoches morio, are cosmopolitan.^[5] They are often dark in color, lending to their common name, and can vary in size. They can be easily identified due to a certain characteristic in their tarsi, involving a ventral projection on the second tarsal segment. Like most earwigs, they are omnivores, and their diet consists of the larvae of leaf-mining insects, as well as certain types of vegetation.^[5]

Genera

The family contains the following genera:^[6]

• Subfamily Chelisochinae Verhoeff, 1902
  • Adiathella Brindle, 1970
  • Adiathetus Burr, 1907
  • Chelisochella Verhoeff, 1902
  • Chelisoches Scudder, 1876
  • Euenkrates Rehn, 1927
  • Exypnus Burr, 1907
  • Gressitolabis Brindle, 1970
  • Hamaxas Burr, 1907
  • Lamprophorella Mjöberg, 1924
  • Proreus Burr, 1907
  • Schizochelisoches Steinmann, 1987
  • Schizoproreus Steinmann, 1987
  • Solenosoma Burr, 1907
• Subfamily Genitalatinae Steinmann, 1987
  • Genitalata Kapoor, 1974
• Subfamily Kinesinae
  • Kinesis Burr, 1907

External links

• The Earwig Research Centre's Chelisochidae database Source for references: type Chelisochidae in the "family" field and click "search".
• Australian Faunal Directory: Chelisochidae
• An image of the family.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Checklist for CHELISOCHIDAE. Australian Government: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Australia. 2008-10-09. Australian Faunal Directory. 2009-06-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20110302142823/http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/CHELISOCHIDAE/checklist#selected. 2011-03-02. dead.
2. See first entry in external links section for reference.
3. Web site: Discover Life - Dermaptera: Chelisochidae - Black earwig, Black earwigs. 2009-06-26. Discover Life.
4. Steinmann. H.. 1993. Das Tierreich. Dermaptera. Eudermaptera II. 108.
5. Web site: Family CHELISOCHIDAE. Australian Government: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Australia. 2008-10-09. Australian Faunal Directory. 2009-06-26.
6. Web site: Hopkins. H.. Maehr. M. D.. Haas. F.. Deem. L. S.. family Chelisochidae Verhoeff, 1902. Dermaptera Species File. 7 January 2017.