1^' I^i^' 



560. 

 FORFICULA BOREALIS. 



Order Dermaptera. Fam. Forficulidae. 



Type of the Genus, Forficula auriculariaiiw/i. 

 FoRFicuLA Linn., &;C. 



Antenna inserted before the eyes, moderately long, filiform, pu- 

 bescent and 14-jointed, basal joint the stoutest, ovate, narrowed 

 at the base, 2nd the smallest, 3rd as slender but longer, 4th 

 globose, the remainder stouter, 5th as long as the 3rd, 6th a 

 little longer, 5 or 6 following rather longer, the remainder 

 slightly decreasing in size (1). 



Labrum somewhat transverse-ovate (2 I), attached to the clypeus 

 which is similar in form (c), slightly thickened in front, ciliated 

 and a little emarginate. 



Mandibles short and trigonate, one strongly bifid at the apex, 



with the internal margin convex at the base (3), the other 



slightly concave and forming an angle at the centre. 



Maxillee rather elongated, furnished with 2 slender lobes, the 



internal one rigid, pointed and bifid at the apex, the interior 



margin ciliated with spines above and hairs below, external lobe 



curved, linear, rounded at the apex. Palpi rather long, hairy 



and 5-jointed, two basal joints short, two following long of equal 



size, a little clavate, 5th rather longer (4). 



Mentum ovate, concave at the base. Lip elongated, pUose, bi- 



lobed, with a transverse suture at the middle. Palpi attached 



to small scapes, triarticulate, rough with short hairs, basal joint 



globose, 2nd and 3rd of equal length, clavate, the latter with a 



gland at the apex (5). 



Head ovate : eyes small, lateral and ovate. Thorax not larger than 



the head, margined, orbicular-quadrate : scutellum concealed. Elytra 



attached beneath the thorax and lying parallel on the back, oblong, 



coriaceous tvithout nervures (9 e). Wings ample, with numerous 



radiating nervures, folded several times, one lying under each elytron, 



with a small portion projecting beyond it (9 w). Abdomen broader 



than the elytra, 9 -jointed in the male with a small elevated knot on 



each side of the 2nd and 3rd joints, and also at the apex ; 1 -jointed 



in the female (A $ ) ; the apex furnished with a pair of moveable 



forceps, curved and denticulated in the male (A (J), curved only at 



the apex in the female ( ? ). Legs, hinder pair a little the longest : 



thighs incrassated : tibise simple : tarsi triarticulate, basal joint 



rather long, 2nd cordate, 3rd slender clavate and nearly as long as 



the 1st : claws slender, acute. 



BoREALis Leach's MSS.—Curt. Guide, Gen. 442. 2. 

 In the Author's and other Cabinets. 



Well and universally known as the Earwig is, comparatively 

 few are acquainted with its oeconomy and singular structure, 

 the dread entertained of these insects rendering them objects 

 of aversion to most persons. Earwigs, having the power of 

 flight, and coming out in the evening and night to feed upon 

 vegetable substances, are exceedingly destructive to fruit and 



