[2] It was first described by Danish zoologist, Johan Christian Fabricius, in 1775.

[3][4] Originally thought to be a synonym of F. auricularia, it has since been classified its own unique species.

Being cryptic, it is often misidentified as F. auricularia or Forficula mediterranea, which differ in their distribution.

The distribution of F. dentata includes the British Isles, parts of Western Europe, Australia,[5] New Zealand, Chile, the Western United States and Canada.

[6] Other populations of this species include the Belarusian Central Botanic Gardens, Belarus; Newfoundland, Canada; and an individual near Gimmingen, Germany.