Classification and investigation of biotic foreign bodies in the ear were performed with reference to ancient and modern Japanese literature.
Identification of species was attempted in 372 cases of biotic foreign bodies removed from external auditory meatus. Out of these foreign bodies, 107 were identified as species of Insecta and 4 as species of Araneae. Sixty-six were identified as family of Insecta, and 4 as the family of Arachnida, though their species remained undetermined. Classification was in the order of: Lepidoptera, 145; Coleoptera, 94; Diptera, 32; Hemiptera, 31; Aphaniptera, 16; Thysanura, 13; Hymenoptera, 10; Orthoptera, 9; Trichoptera, 7; Araneae, 7; Dermaptera, 2; Psocoptera, 2; Ephemeroptera, 2; and Acarina, 2. Classification by month revealed the highest numbers in the summer.
As insects invading the external auditory meatus, the following can be counted: Phototropic insects, indoor living insects, non-infective insects, and perforating insects. As for the cause of invasion, suppurative odors, change of habitat, error, accident and superstition are considered.
As for the method of removal of foreign body from the external ear, the following is recommended on the basis of my own experience and with reference to the literature: Small ones can be removed by pincers, forceps or merely by lavage. Large ones, causing severe pain can be killed with olive oil before removal with a foreign-body fishing loop, forceps, or by lavage.

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