VII r WINGS OF EARWIGS 207 



sent the marginal field of the wing of other Orthoptera. There 

 are, however, grave difficulties in the way of accepting this view 

 of the earwig's wing, amongst which we may mention the 

 position of the vena dividens and its relation to the so-called 

 radial and ulnar fields of the wing. The wings are remarkable 

 for their delicacy ; moreover, the way in which they fold up so 

 as to be packed in the manner shown in B, Fig. 107, is very 

 interesting, there being, in fact, no other Insects that fold up 

 their wings in so complicated and compact a fashion as the 

 earwigs do. The process is carried out somewhat as follows : the 

 longer radii come a little nearer together, the delicate membrane 

 between them falling into folds somewhat like those of a paper 

 fan ; a transverse fold, or turn-over, then occurs at the point 

 where the radii, or axillary nerves, start from the vena plicata ; 

 then a second transverse fold, but in a reversed direction, occurs 

 affecting the wing just close to the spots where the shorter 

 radial nervures are dilated ; then by a contraction close to the 

 scale the whole series of complex folds and double are brought 

 together and compressed. 



It is quite a mystery why earwigs should fold their wings 

 in this complex manner, and it is still more remarkable that 

 the Insects very rarely use them. Indeed, though Forficida 

 auricularia is scarcely surpassed in numbers by any British 

 Insect, yet it is rarely seen on the wing ; it is probable that 

 the majority of the individuals of this species may never make 

 use of their organs of flight or go through the complex process 

 of unfolding and folding them. It should be remarked that no 

 part of the delicate membranous expanse of the wing is exposed 

 when the wings are packed in their position of repose ; for the 

 portion that projects from undfer the tegmina and which, it 

 will be remembered, is always present, for when wings exist 

 in earwigs they are never entirely concealed by the tegmina 

 is, it is curious to note, of hard texture, and is frequently coloured 

 and sculptured in harmony with the tegmen ; in fact, one small 

 part of the wing forms in colour and texture a most striking 

 contrast to the rest of the organ, but agrees in these respects 

 with the wing-covers. This condition is seen in Fig. 108, 

 where B shows the sculpture of the tegmina t, and of the 

 projecting tips of the wings w. There are numerous other 

 instances in Orthoptera where one part of a wing or wing-case 



