i8 



THE BIOLOGY OF INSECTS 



apical teeth interlock and the molar areas are in contact. 

 Thus pieces of leaves or blossoms can be seized and bitten 

 up by the teeth, and then ground into small particles 

 between the ridged molar surfaces which move over each 

 other as the mandibles alternately are pulled inwards 



Fig. 6. — Mouth parts of Earwig (Forficula aiiricularia), A, labrum 

 or upper lip (la) attached to face or clypeus (c), alongside base of feeler 

 (/). B, left mandible (front view) : at, apical teeth ; w, molar (grinding) 

 area ; c, condyle ; g, ginglymus ; ad, tendon of adductor and ar of 

 abductor muscles. C, hypopharynx (h) with superlinguae (s) and 

 supporting feet (p). D, left maxilla (back view) : c, cardo ; s, stipes ; /, 

 lacinia ; g, galea ; p, palp. E, labium formed by conjoined hinder 

 maxillae : gu, neck sclerite ; sm, submentum ; m, mentum ; gl, united 

 galea and lacinia ; p, palp. X 50. 



towards the mouth by the slight contraction of their 

 abductor muscles. 



