110 INSECTS. 



whereas, in the present Order, the changes are gradual. 

 In all three stages the insect is active, and the larva, 

 pupa, and imago, have a strong resemblance to each 

 other. 



The common Earwig (Forficula auricularia) , when 

 perfected, is a long, narrow, flat insect, of a brown or 

 puce colour. It has long, slender antennae of four- 

 teen joints, very short wing-cases, under which are large 

 and beautifully-folded wings (see Plate IV., fig. ]. F. 

 auricularia, with the wings expanded), and, at the tail, a 

 large pair of horny forceps in the male, strong, dilated 

 at the base, and toothed; in the female, more slender, 

 and quite simple. 



The larva, when first hatched, is small, pale -coloured, 

 and active ; it increases in size every month, till it 

 reaches the pupa stage. The antennae are shorter than 

 in the imago, consisting of only eight or nine joints, and 

 the future forceps are nearly straight, long, slender, and 

 feeble. In the pupa the rudiments of wings and wing- 

 cases are apparent, the antennas are twelve-jointed, and 

 the forceps are strong and curved. 



There are four genera of British Earwigs, of which For- 

 ficula contains four species, and the others only one each. 

 The genera are chiefly to be distinguished by the num- 

 ber of joints in the antennaB ; Forficula having fourteen, 

 Labia twelve,* and Forficesila about twenty-five. The 

 remaining genus, Apterygida, has antennae of twelve 

 joints, and, as its name denotes, is wingless. The wing- 

 cases, however, are present. 



The curious forceps-like appendage of the abdomen 



* This applies to the single English species, the foreign have from ten 

 to twelve. 



