Gregarious behaviour in Cretaceous earwig nymphs (Insecta, Dermaptera) from southwestern France

The first earwigs in Early Cretaceous (latest Albian) amber from southwestern France are described and figured. The amber piece in question, ARC-240, contains a complete earwig nymph as well as three partial nymphs preserved in a single piece of fossiliferous resin from Archingeay (Charente-Maritime, France). The morphology of the nymphs is discussed in relation to their possible taxonomic placement as well as their developmental stage. The preservation of so many nymphs in a single piece is curious and comments about the gregarious nature of modern earwigs in relation to the fossil are provided.