48 
Psyche 
[Vol. 91 
viduals have been collected at Catalina Harbor (July 1979, LACM) 
and on the beach at Toyon Bay (May 1981, SBMNH). San Cle- 
mente: A series was collected in 1885 or 1886 by T.L. Casey 
(USNM), one was collected in November 1941 (LACM), and it has 
been taken in the 1970s around Wilson Cove (military living com- 
pound) and the new airport. 
Forficula auricularia Linnaeus 
This cosmopolitan species has not been established in California 
as long as E. annulipes and has undergone rapid expansion of range 
in the state in the last fifty years (Langston and Miller 1977). It was 
probably not established in coastal southern California until at least 
the 1940s (Langston and Powell 1975). Channel Islands records are 
as follows: Santa Rosa: Colonies sampled during the 1970s at 
Beechers Bay (ranch headquarters), Arlington Canyon, and Wreck 
Canyon (CAS, SBMNH, USNM). Santa Cruz: Powell (1981) dis- 
cusses the establishment of this species between the late 1960s and 
1978. It is now well established in the Central Valley. Santa Cata- 
lina: Between 1975 and 1983, it has been collected at Catalina Har- 
bor, Cherry Cove, Cottonwood Canyon, Gallaghers Beach, Parsons 
Landing, Twin Harbors (Cat Harbor), and Toyon Bay (LACM, 
SBMNH), and can be very abundant (S.G. Bennett pers. comm.). 
San Nicolas: Taken in 1980 and 1982 at the military living com- 
pound (LACM, SBMNH). San Clemente: First taken at the new 
airport in March 1972 (UCB), it was taken at Wilson Cove and 
Lemon Tank in December 1981 (SBMNH). Santa Barbara: One 
female taken in June 1983 (LACM). 
Discussion 
Both species are generally restricted to the areas around human 
activity (i.e. ranch and military facilities) and beaches. The earwigs 
are omnivorous, sometimes predaceous on other insects, often feed- 
ing on live or dead vegetation, often injuring crops on the mainland 
(Langston and Powell 1975). These species, especially Forficula 
auricularia, can also be household nuisance pests, and can cause 
considerable annoyance in large numbers. 
Based on the data presented above, E. annulipes has been present 
on three islands for 40 to 100 years and maintains small popula- 
