POLYMORPHISMS AMONG MALES OF THE EUROPEAN EARWIG, FORFICULA AURICULARIA (DERMAPTERA: FORFICULIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractBody weight, head width, and cercus length and width of adult male earwigs were found to be polymorphic in both field-collected and laboratory-reared samples. The view that the polymorphisms are the result of environmentally induced ’heterogonic growth’ is discounted. Seasonal, annual, and geographic variation in morph frequencies are demonstrated and discussed.