Overview
This is a small, mainly tropical family with Chelisochinae represented in northern Australia by dark brown to black earwigs ranging from 15-25 mm long. They are commonly encountered among the tightly overlapping leaf bases of
Pandanus
where they are afforded protection during the day.
Description
Hamaxas
is small, and has pubescent legs with tibiae smooth above.
Chelisoches
is larger, robust and the tibiae are flattened and sulcate above.
C.
morio
is synanthropic and widely distributed throughout the Pacific and elsewhere.
Proreus
is similar to
Chelisoches
, but more slender, and has slender antennae;
Lamprophorella
has a strongly depressed body.