The Earwig has no interest whatsoever in wigs, so why this curious name?
The clue, nevertheless, lies in that second part.
For many, many centuries, popular superstition had it that the insect’s chief aim in life was to enter the ear of any warm-blooded animal, chiefly man, and then by the aid of the pincer-like appendage at the end of its abdomen, bore its way into the brain, to wiggle, that is, through the inner inner ear into the brain.
It doesn’t do any such thing, of course, yet if we called the Earwig an “ear wiggler” the old popular notion would be self-explanatory.
The scientific name is Forficula auricularia, Latin for “ear forceps” or “ear pincers.”
Related Posts
-
How Does Uranus’s Tilt On Its Axis Effect Its Orbit and How Long Does Uranus Take To Orbit the Sun?
As Uranus orbits the Sun, first the north pole faces the solar surface, then the equator, then the south pole, and then the equator again. This gives Uranus seasons that are unique and…
-
Why Does a Young Penguin Stick Its Head in Its Mother’s Mouth?
Almost all young birds get their food directly from their mother, and the penguin is no exception. But the mother penguin not only provides her young with food, she partially digests it for…
-
How did the Touch Me Not or Sensitive Plant get its Name and how does it Close its Leaves when you Touch it?
The incredible touch me not plant, or Mimosa, is a most fascinating plant and is found all over the world. It is a member of the mimosa family, also known as humble plant,…
-
What is a Nutria, what does its Meat Taste like, and how did it get its Name?
Surprisingly, the nutria has less fat and cholesterol than chicken or turkey and is loaded with protein. By all reports, it tastes like rabbit and is very tender. The nutria, also known as…
-
How Big is a Giraffe’s Heart and How Does a Giraffe Get Enough Blood to its Brain Through its Long Neck?
The giraffe heart is quite a powerful pumping machine. A giraffe's heart can weigh up to 22 pounds and about 2 feet long in size. It must produce about double the normal blood…
-
What Is the Depth of the Earth from Its Surface to Its Core?
The center of the earth is thought to contain a core of solid iron with a radius of about 850 miles. Surrounding this central core is an outer core of liquid iron, about…
