noun
earwig
Common insect name; the word is usually written in kana. The kanji forms are etymologically transparent but rarely used.
庭でハサミムシを見つけた。
I found an earwig in the garden.
Compound of はさみ (pincers) + 虫 (insect), referring to the pincer-like cerci. The kanji spellings 挟み虫 and 鋏虫 reflect this origin.