<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)

Data publikacji: 11 paź 2020

Zakres stron: 47 - 50

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

Słowa kluczowe
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)

Data publikacji: 11 paź 2020

Zakres stron: 47 - 50

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

Słowa kluczoweearwigs, 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.

Słowa kluczowe
earwigs, Dermaptera, etymology, Pliny the Elder, superstition