6 "THE entomologist's RECORD. 



Retrospect of an Orthopterist for 1902. 



By MALCOLM BURR, B.A., F.L.S., F.E.S. 



The orthopterist finds but little of note to mark the year in looking 

 back through the past twelve months. The most striking, or, indeed, 

 the only, event of interest in connection with our own fauna, is the re- 

 discovery of Lahidiira riparia. Pall., the giant earwig. It is recorded 

 by Mr. Lucas in the pages of The luttoindlonist, Miss Nellie Robertson 

 took it in July at Bournemouth, and ^lajor Robertson records the cap- 

 ture of several [Jviit. lln-., xiv., p. 3i()) ; this is apparently its favourite 

 region ; all our old records are for the southern counties, most of them 

 for the Hampshire coast. It is a cosmopolitan insect, and so variable, 

 that entomologists never agree as to how many races or varieties there 

 are, or whether they all are one species or several. It seems to be 

 indigenous to the Pala^arctic region, and is almost invariably found on 

 the sea-shore or on river-banks. In this country it is probably a truly 

 native species, as it is always found under natural conditions, instead 

 of half-domesticated and dependent on artificial warmth like the 

 equally cosmopolitan Anisnlahis aiinuUpes, Luc, and Aptenjijida 

 arac/ddis, Yers. Careful search will probably eventually prove its 

 existence on other parts of our south coast. 



More than the usual number of exotic species have straggled to 

 our shores during the past year. Ai/roecia rittiprs, Redt., a Brazilian 

 grasshopper, and two cockroaches, Sti/l(ijii/(ia dccorata, Brunner, and 

 I'anchlura e.ivlcta, Klug, have all been noted in this magazine. The 

 two last are recorded by Mr. Eland Shaw, M.R.C.S. We hope the 

 year may be signalised by the return to his favourite order of this 

 entomologist whose synopsis of more than ten years ago did so much 

 to stimulate the study of orthoptera in Great Britain. 



Among publications, the most striking is the appearance of a 

 proposed totally new system of the Dermaptera, by Verhoeli'. The 

 assiduous German author, after an examination of the material in 

 the Berlin Museum, launched in the ZooliKim-licr A)ncitic'r, an entirely 

 revolutionary paper, which was, unfortunately, somewhat prematurely 

 given to the world, as not all the genera have been dealt with. The 

 first memoiL' was followed by a brief article dealing with some further 

 genera, and more has been promised. Orthopterists must, however, 

 regret that the author has not more carefully matured his observations. 

 Many new species and several new genera are described briefly, and in 

 German. The species are mainly African, and apparently rare ; and, as 

 the types are in the I3er!m Museum, it is to be regretted that no illus- 

 trations are given. Some of the genera may be unable to stand the 

 strain of future examination, but, in spite of all drawl)acks, it is a step 

 in the right direction, and any change is to be welcomed that is an 

 improvement upon the accepted but antiquated arrangement. 



As a curiosity, we may mention the blind earwig, Anholahi^ caeca, 

 described by Borelli, from the Argentine Republic. It is very closely 

 allied to the universal A. annuUpes, Luc, but no vestiges of eyes can 

 be seen. 



Among systematic works, Hancock's " Tettigid^e of North 

 America" is deserving of mention. It is an important faunistic mono- 

 graph that is also of purely systematic value. It has been noticed in 

 these pages {antca, 1902, p. 230). 



