Temporal overlap and efficient termite exploitation characterize the interaction between an earwig predator and a subterranean termite

Subterranean termites constitute a major and nutrient-rich resource in soil food webs, yet their exploitation by predators is constrained by cryptic nest architecture and collective social defenses. How predators access or exploit termite resources under these constraints remains poorly understood. Here, we combined DNA metabarcoding, microscopic gut contents examination, temporal niche analysis, functional response assays, and microcosm bioassays to investigate the predatory association between the earwig Gonolabis marginalis and the subterranean termite Odontotermes formosanus. Molecular dietary analysis, supported by the recovery of masticated termite sclerites from predator guts, showed that termites were the largest detected dietary component, accounting for 41.78% of the relative sequence abundance in field-collected samples. Community-level analyses revealed strong temporal niche overlap between the monthly abundance patterns of G. marginalis and O. formosanus during the sampling period. Functional response analysis showed that adult earwigs had shorter prey-handling times and higher theoretical predation capacities. Microcosm bioassays further showed that predatory effects occurred across sand, loam, and clay loam, although suppression varied with soil texture. Together, these results indicate that G. marginalis efficiently exploits subterranean termite prey, with the observed temporal overlap potentially increasing encounter opportunities, efficient prey handling facilitating exploitation after encounters, and predatory effects occurring across contrasting soil textures under controlled laboratory conditions. This study provides molecular and ecological evidence for predator-prey interactions in subterranean soil food webs.