504 



Proceedings of Indiana Academy of Science 



thrust with the forceps would mean defeat for the one being dragged. 

 When an adversary was injured or held in a helpless position so far as 

 the forceps were concerned the winner would twist around and use his 

 mandibles in the softer parts of the victim's body. Figure 6 shows an 

 earwig with a ci-icket in this condition. 



When disturbed the earwigs often raise their forceps in a threaten- 

 ing manner that reminds one of the scorpions. This position seems to 



Figs. 1-2. Mountc'fl specimens of the two types of eaiwiijrs used in the experiments. 

 Note the powerful forceps. SIiRhtly enlarsecl. 



give protection to the thoracic region and is favorable to a more accurate 

 thrust with the forceps. When this method of attack is used the ear- 

 wig raises the posterior part of its thorax to an angle of nearly forty- 

 five degrees so that the forceps are brought to a location directly above 

 the head. While running forward in this position the thrust is made 

 in a slightly lateral direction (fig. 3) enabling the earwig to turn the 



Fig. 3. A male earwiK in a scorpion-like position of attack. The forceps were in a 

 position above the head until the "stroke" was made in a lateral direction. 



anterior part of its body into a place of safety but still giving battle 

 with the pinching thrusts of its forceps. Some observers have at- 

 tributed these scoipion-like actions to mimicry but this does not seem 

 to be the case. 



The males are more pugnacious than the females but cannibali.sm 

 is very common among females placed in containers with only a small 

 amount of food. Figure 7 .shows a female eating a cricket that it has 



