The common name derives from the Greek words ēare, which means "ear," and wicga, which means "beetle." There are various theories about the origin of this name. Some entomologists believe it derives from the fact that the hind wings resemble a human ear when they are unfolded. A more widely accepted view is that it derives from an old wive's tale that told of earwigs boring into human brains through the ear canal to lay eggs—the source of a number of plot lines in horror and sci-fi movies. This may have been more a cautionary tale aimed at coaxing children into better hygiene, as there is virtually no legitimate evidence of such a thing—though it's not unheard of for insects to accidentally wind up in a human ear.