In North America, the life cycle of the European earwig (Forficula auricularia L.) can be divided into a nesting phase (hypogean phase) and a free-foraging phase (epigean phase) (Crumb et al. 1941; Behura 1956; Lamb and Wellington 1975). Adults spend the nesting phase in the soil; females burrow into the ground at the onset of the cold weather, lay eggs, and then care for the eggs. Hatching occurs in spring; first- or second-instar nymphs move to the soil surface for the free-foraging period. The earwig, a nocturnal insect, spends the entire daylight period of hiding under trash or in dark crevices. Where two broods occur, females reenter the ground a second time (Lamb and Wellington 1975). Stomach content analyses (Crumb et al. 1941; Sunderland and Vickerman 1980) and food preference tests (McLeod and Chant 1952; Buxton and Madge 1976) revealed that the European earwig is omnivorous. Under laboratory conditions, nymphs fed freshly frozen aphids, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), survive better than those fed green algae or carrots, develop faster, and produce heavier females (Phillips 1981; Carrillo 1985).
在北美洲,欧洲蠼(Forficula auricularia L.)的生命周期可分为筑巢期(hypogean phase)和自由觅食期(epigean phase)(Crumb 等人,1941 年;Behura,1956 年;Lamb 和 Wellington,1975 年)。成虫在土壤中度过筑巢阶段;雌虫在寒冷天气开始时钻入地下产卵,然后照料卵。孵化发生在春季;一龄或二龄若虫移到土壤表面自由觅食。蠼是一种夜行性昆虫,整个白天都躲在垃圾堆下或黑暗的缝隙中。当出现两窝幼虫时,雌虫会再次进入地下(Lamb 和 Wellington,1975 年)。胃内容物分析(Crumb 等,1941 年;Sunderland 和 Vickerman,1980 年)和食物偏好测试(McLeod 和 Chant,1952 年;Buxton 和 Madge,1976 年)显示,欧洲蠼是杂食性的。在实验室条件下,喂食新鲜冷冻蚜虫 Rhopalosiphum padi (L.)(半翅目:蚜科)的若虫比喂食绿藻或胡萝卜的若虫存活率更高,发育更快,雌虫体重更大(Phillips,1981 年;Carrillo,1985 年)。