A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



FORFICULARIA 



Earwigs 



The common earwig Forficula auricu/aria, Linn. is exceedingly common everywhere. 

 Outside of the Hymenoptera comparatively few insects ever see their progeny, and the exhibi- 

 tion of parental care beyond the selection of a food plant is very rare. But the female earwig 

 is a most devoted mother, ready to sacrifice her life in the protection of her brood. The 

 Lesser Earwig Labia minor, Linn. is met with at several places, Birtley and near Hartlepool, 

 etc. Anholabia maritina was abundant at one place, South Shields, in 1857, and during the 

 next two years Alphitobius picipes was found in numbers in cavities of Slag in the neighbourhood 

 of the same town. 



BLATTODEA 

 Cockroaches 



There are 800 species of cockroaches, but only five or six inhabit Britain, of which there 

 may be probably two or three in Durham, but there is no record of any except Blatta orientally 

 Linn., the common house Cockroach or Black Beetle, only too abundant in old houses through- 

 out the county. Blatta maderee has occurred at South Shields, introduced in cargoes. 

 Panchlora exoleta, Burn., was taken alive this year at Bishop Auckland, introduced undoubtedly 

 among bananas from South America. 



ACRIDIODEA 



Grasshoppers 



There are two or three green species, probably Stenobothrus bicolor, Chap., and S. parallelus, 

 Zett., and the dark Gomphocerus macu/atus, Thunb., is common on the moors, but they have 

 not been observed with any care. Gomphocerus rufus is recorded by Backhouse as taken at 

 Sunderland and Waskerley. 



LOCUSTODEA 

 Locusts 



I do not know of any of the British species having been found in the county, but two 

 foreign species have been taken at Hartlepool, and in 1858 Pachytylus migratorius occurred 

 at Sunderland and other places on the coast. 



GRYLLODEA 



Crickets 



Gryllotalpa vu/garis, the Mole Cricket, has been found near Hartlepool, probably intro- 

 duced. Gryllus domesticus, Linn., is not uncommon in old country houses. 



NEUROPTERA 



Dragonflies, Stone-flies, Lacewings, Caddis-flies, etc. 



This is a very varied group, which contains many of our most splendid insects, but there 

 is no record of its having received any systematic attention in this county. Everyone knows 

 the great JEschnte, the Horse stingers, as they are called, although perfectly innocent of hurting 

 either man or beast, and the gorgeous little Agrions that flit in numbers over almost every 

 pond in summer ; but local entomologists seem to have been content with mere general 

 observation. 



Of the Libellulidte, the only ones that have been recorded are Platetrum depressum, a bold, 

 defiant insect of an inquisitive turn of mind, which often brings about its capture where pursuit 

 would be hopeless, and, Libellula quadrimaculata, Linn., and Sympetrum vulgatum, both of which 

 are to be found in Castle Eden Dene and other localities. 



The only British member of the Cordulegastrid<e, Cordulegaster annu/atus, Latr., may also 

 be seen in several places, but it is not often captured. Of the Mschnidte, AZschna juncea, Linn., 

 is fairly common in Hesleden, by the side of the Wear, and at Gibside, and Mschna grandis is 

 recorded in Ornsby's Durham as having been taken in that neighbourhood. In the beautiful 

 family of the Calopterygidts we have only one species as yet recorded, Calopteryx virgo, Linn., > 

 but that is said to be common in the Browney valley. 



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