How do you pronounce "qusou" (earwig), and is it poisonous after it bites?
The earwig is also called jiabanzi, jiabanchong, jianzhijiachong, jiandaochong, ermujiazi, erjiazichong, and is an insect commonly seen in the tropics and subtropics, often appearing in bark crevices, under fallen leaves, and beneath rotting wood. So how do you pronounce "qusou" (earwig)? Is it poisonous after it bites?
1. How do you pronounce "qusou" (earwig)?
The pronunciation of "qusou" (earwig) is qúsǒu. In China it is mainly distributed in Beijing, Hubei, Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Anhui and other places. There are five main species:
1. Japanese earwig: a predatory natural enemy. Host crops harmed: cotton. Host insects: cutworms, cotton bollworms, cotton semi-looper, spotted bollworm, tobacco cutworm, pink bollworm, short-horned grasshopper, cotton aphid.
2. Giant earwig: this type of earwig has short legs, and most lack hind wings; in some species even the short, hard forewings are absent. Many species are dark in tone, blackish-brown, black, or slightly red with pale yellow or red markings. The antennae have fewer than 20 segments, and there is a pair of short abdominal forceps, though in males these can be asymmetrical.
3. Yellow-brown earwig: a predatory natural enemy. Host crops harmed: cotton. Host insects: black cutworm, pink bollworm, snails.
4. Common earwig: this slender earwig varies greatly in appearance, but is usually dark brown or blackish-brown, with dull legs and thread-like antennae. The abdominal forceps of the male earwig are highly curved, while those of the female are relatively straight.
5. Red earwig: also called the long-legged earwig, because it has long antennae; it is a relatively active species and is reddish-brown. They usually have wings, although some species are wingless. Common species have dark stripes on the pronotum and elytra.
2. Is the earwig poisonous after it bites?
Earwigs are non-toxic and harmless, and generally do not bite people. They are very cute little insects. When disturbed, they will not only refrain from actively attacking the other party, but will also play dead and then flee for their lives! Of course, these tail forceps are also their defensive weapon; when startled, they may occasionally raise both forceps in a show of threat, and the glandular folds on the 3rd and 4th abdominal segments of the earwig can secrete a special foul odor to drive off enemies. If these small insects appear, simply driving them away with a broom, sweeping them up, or spraying them with insecticide will do. If an individual case of an earwig biting a person occurs, medical attention should be sought promptly.
3. Related rumors about earwigs
The earwig guarding its eggs: a female earwig about to lay eggs will use its pincers to attach itself to the human body. At midnight, when the person is asleep, the earwig will crawl into the person's ear and bore all the way into the person's brain. Then the earwig will carefully sever the person's cranial nerves, so that the poor host cannot notice. It will lay thousands of eggs, and 4 days later, these larvae will hatch and feed on the soft brain tissue. At this point the host has gone completely mad and finally dies in extreme terror.
The above legend is merely a legend and has no scientific basis. First of all, in the human ear, it is not possible to enter the brain simply by biting through the eardrum; there is also bone in between, and the earwig's ability is not sufficient to enter the brain. So this claim is false, but why does such a legend exist?
Scientists believe this may be related to the English name of the earwig. Upon checking, it turns out that the English name of the earwig, when translated, actually means "ear worm." That explains it. Perhaps because the name of this insect makes people mistakenly think it enters the ear, this rumor naturally arose.