Capability of Forficula auricularia linnaeus (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) to prey on Aphis craccivora koch (Homoptera: Aphididae) in eastern and Central Africa

Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae) is an economic pest of cowpea in eastern Uganda and in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The earwig Forficula auricularia (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) is a predatory species frequently observed on farms in eastern and central Africa. To determine the predation capability of F. auricularia on A. craccivora, laboratory and field cage experiments were set up in Uganda and the DRC during the rainy seasons of 2004 and 2005, with various predator-prey ratios as treatments. In the laboratory, F. auricularia consumed a range of 1.27 to 7.82 A. craccivora per day, while in the field the range was 3.66 to 7.24. Although this earwig did not demonstrate high predation levels, it is contributing to natural control of insect pests and therefore its populations should be encouraged.