427 



degree of infestation of the alimentary tract by Gregarines, is not 

 borne out by the researches here described. Of several thousand 

 individuals, over 50 males with forceps of varying length were dissected, 

 with the result that the Gregarine, Clepsijdrina ovata, was found to 

 occur commonly and indifferently in all the specimens, which, more- 

 over, showed no dift'erence in the development of the testes or other 

 internal sexual organs. 



Several earwigs from the Scilly Islands were found to be parasitised 

 by a Gordiid larva, the coils of which, though projecting between the 

 tergites of the abdomen, seemed to have no effect on the health and 

 activity of their hosts. Other individuals, though having the hind- 

 gut partly or completely atrophied as the result of mfestation, 

 seemed active and healthy. The presence of Filaria looistae has 

 been seen to have a more serious effect on the health of these insects 

 [see this Review, Ser. A, v, p. 444]. 



Another species, Forficula tomis, Kol. , is parasitised by the Tachinid 

 flv, Rhacodineura aniiqua, in Russia. F. auricularia, or perhaps 

 F. lesnei, is said to be attacked by Acarid mites, and is also very 

 susceptible to the attacks of fungoid parasites in the laboratory, 

 Entomophthora forficulae frequently infesting it in the presence of 

 damp. 



In view of the diversity of reports as to the favourite food-plants 

 of earwigs, and the general lack of knowledge of the amount of damage 

 likely to be done by them in gardens, the author recently carried out a 

 series of observations extending over some weeks. From these it 

 seems certain that many ordinary garden plants are liable to serious 

 attack by earwigs, which can thrive on a purely vegetable diet. It 

 is not yet known, however, whether the choice of a particular plant 

 in one locality and its neglect in another is due to the presence or 

 absence of suitable animal food, or to diff'erences in the preferences 

 of nymphs and adults, the former being in the majority till about 

 the end of July. 



It seems certain that earwigs are often carnivorous by choice, 

 and as there are records of their killing certain insect pests of 

 plants, they may be regarded as, to some extent, beneficial 

 insects. In short, the earwig has a reputation for evil that is 

 only partly deserved, its nocturnal habits leading it to use the 

 closely-packed florets of such flowers as the chrysanthemum and 

 dahlia as day-time shelters from which nightly excursions for 

 feeding may be made. 



Wild birds cannot be relied upon to diminish the numbers of earwigs 

 in a garden, as many of the most insectivorous do not appear to feed 

 on them at all, though domestic fowls always eat them readily. They 

 are also eaten by toads. 



Contra la Langosta. [Against Locusts.] — Rev. Inst. Agric. Catalan S. 

 Isidro, Barcelona, Ixvii, no. 13, 5th July 1918, p. 230. 



A Royal Order, dated 25th June 1918, instructs the Governors of 

 provinces that are threatened by locusts to take all measures required 

 by law against these pests. 



{C504) a2 



