<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Earwigs are amongst the most misunderstood animals in the world. A widespread belief accuses them of entering human ears and causing severe damages to ear and brain. Although there is no evidence for any asscociation between earwigs and (human) ears, the common names of these insects in nearly every European language refer to that fact. The myth is probably originating in the scriptures of Pliny the Elder. References in old Germanic indicate the origin of the naming as far back as the beginning of the first millenium.</p></abstract>

Earwigs are amongst the most misunderstood animals in the world. A widespread belief accuses them of entering human ears and causing severe damages to ear and brain. Although there is no evidence for any asscociation between earwigs and (human) ears, the common names of these insects in nearly every European language refer to that fact. The myth is probably originating in the scriptures of Pliny the Elder. References in old Germanic indicate the origin of the naming as far back as the beginning of the first millenium.

Superstitious beliefs about earwigs (Dermaptera)

Acta Musei Silesiae, Scientiae Naturales

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Superstitious beliefs about earwigs (Dermaptera)"}

Earwigs are amongst the most misunderstood animals in the world. A widespread belief accuses them of entering human ears and causing severe damages to ear and...

Superstitious beliefs about earwigs (Dermaptera)

Published Online: Oct 11, 2020

Page range: 47 - 50

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cszma-2020-0003

Keywords
earwigs, Dermaptera, etymology, Pliny the Elder, superstition

© 2020 Frank Brandstaetter, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Superstitious beliefs about earwigs (Dermaptera)

Published Online: Oct 11, 2020

Page range: 47 - 50

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cszma-2020-0003

Keywordsearwigs, Dermaptera, etymology, Pliny the Elder, superstition

© 2020 Frank Brandstaetter, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
earwigs, Dermaptera, etymology, Pliny the Elder, superstition