Overview
Parisolabis
is the only known Australian genus.
Description
The Anisolabididae (=Carcinophoridae
auctt.
), regarded as constituting a superfamily of their own (Anisolabi[d]oidea) by Sakai (1982
et seq.
), consist of wingless species having the manubrium at least as long as the subgenital plate. In the
Anisolabidinae
,
Titanolabis
has the meso- and metasternum lobed posteriorly. The abdomen of
Anisolabis
is weakly dilated, but that of each of the closely related genera
Gonolabis
,
Mongolabis
and
Notolabis
is noticeably broadest towards the apex; these genera may also be distinguished by the male genitalia.
Titanolabis
colossea
is a very large and robust earwig, with some specimens attaining 55 mm. It is reddish brown to black and is found in rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests of eastern Australia. All
Isolabidinae
(= Brachylabidinae, Brachylabinae
auctt.
) are apterous, dull, dark brown to black, often thickly clothed with fine bristles, and have short antennae.
Antisolabis
,
Brachylabis
and
Nannisolabis
may be separated by the lateral keel of the mesonotum and the form of the proximal antennal segments. The
Isolabellinae
(Parisolabidinae) superficially resemble the Isolabidinae.
Parisolabis
is the only known Australian genus.