Data from: Big wigs and small wigs: Time, sex, size and shelter affect cohabitation in the maritime earwig (Anisolabis maritima)

Animal aggregations can occur for a variety of abiotic factors, such as
resource limitation, or biotic factors, including group foraging and
protection from predators. In our study, we examined whether time, sex,
body size or shelter availability affected aggregation behavior of the
maritime earwig, Anisolabis maritima (Order Dermaptera), an insect found
globally at high densities under driftwood. Specifically, we monitored the
distribution of two individuals in arenas with either two shelters (no
habitat limitation) or one shelter (habitat limitation) to determine their
propensity for cohabitation at times of peak activity and times of
quiescence. Females, whose high levels of aggression are often associated
with maternal care, were particularly averse to cohabitation, whereas
males were generally more tolerant of other earwigs. Females initially
preferred not to cohabitate when placed with a male, but were more
tolerant of cohabitation later, regardless of the number of shelters.
Same-sex pairs, on the other hand, were less likely to cohabitate with
only one shelter present, but males were again more tolerant of
conspecifics than females regardless of habitat limitation. When
competition for one shelter did not lead to cohabitation, the lone
occupant was more likely to be the larger individual in same-sex trials
and females in mixed-sex trials. Understanding the tolerance for close
proximity under these varying conditions may provide insight into
aggregative behavior and spatial distribution patterns in the maritime
earwig.