10 



BRITISH ( WTHOPTERA. 



the various records may sometimes be due to the fact 

 that not all species use them in the same way. Various 

 writers have stated that they are of use in folding 

 the Avings after flight, or in opening them in readi- 

 ness for it; but others have contradicted these state- 



FIG. 2. Callipers of British earwigs, males ( x 5). 1. Forftcula 

 auricularia Linnaeus. 2. F. auricularia var. forcipata Stephens. 

 3. F. lesnei Finot. 4. Labia minor Linnaeiis. 5. Labidura riparia 

 Pallas. 6. Anisolabis annulipes Lucas. 7. Apterygida albipennis 

 Megerle. 8. Prolabia arachidis Yersin. 



ments, and the evidence seems to be conflicting (see 

 pp. 31. 32).* They are sometimes used as weapons of 

 offence (p. 25), and as means for the capture of prey 

 (p. 25). Sopp suggestsf that they may be employed 



* M. Burr, ' Fauna of British India/ " Dermaptera," pp. 16, 17, 1910. 

 t E. J. B. Sopp, ' Proc. Lane, and dies. Ent. Soc/ 1905. 



