# Earwigs Take Flight

**URL:** <https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/earwigs-take-flight/2386>\
**Category:** Tracking with Closeups\
**Tags:** insect-flight, earwig, slow-motion\
**Created:** [3 December 2022 12:02 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/earwigs-take-flight/2386 "2022-12-03T12:02:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/user_avatar/scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/johnwalker/32/17415_2.png) [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\
**Post date:** [3 December 2022 12:02 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/earwigs-take-flight/2386/1 "2022-12-03T12:02:26Z")

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[![](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/uploads/default/original/2X/0/0b527aeddc4c637f80e46ccc13de7638a66bce1b.jpeg "Amazing Earwig Wings in Action!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PNtn6ly9wU)

I didn’t even know earwigs (_[Labidura riparia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labidura_riparia)_) _had_ wings. The intricate way in which they fold up and extend for flight from under the fore-wing covers is one of those things in biology that sets a little voice at the back of your head whispering “design”.

Ten other insect species are shown taking flight, all captured at 6000 frames per second.

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**Author:** ![magus](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@magus](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/magus)\
**Post date:** [4 December 2022 03:36 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/earwigs-take-flight/2386/2 "2022-12-04T03:36:10Z")

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What incredible footage! I did not know what earwigs were, much less that they have such complex folding wings. Those forceps are pretty impressive, too.