Love and Survival: How Female Earwigs Evolved Deadly Claws

Rapid Summary

• A study by Toho University revealed that female earwigs exhibit exaggerated forceps growth similar to males, hinting at sexual selection in both sexes.
• Positive allometry, where certain body parts grow disproportionately large relative to body size, is observed in male adn female earwig forceps.
• Male forceps are thick, short, and curved; female forceps are thin, long, and straight-showing sexual dimorphism.
• In females, the length of the forceps displays positive allometry. This suggests weapon evolution in competition for mates among females as well.
• The study highlights the importance of analyzing female traits alongside male ones in insect morphology research.
• Published on June 12, 2025, in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

This research provides fresh insights into evolutionary biology by expanding our understanding of sexual selection beyond traditionally male-focused studies. The finding that both male and female earwigs evolve traits through competing for mates challenges conventional approaches and underscores the complexity of evolutionary mechanisms.For India’s scientific community-which increasingly emphasizes multidisciplinary fields-this study could prompt further exploration into lesser-known behaviors across species native to India’s diverse ecosystems. Additionally, such international findings reiterate why investing in robust biological research programs remains key for uncovering unique phenomena within India’s wildlife heritage.