TURNIP-BEETLES, LADYBIRDS, AND EARWIGS. 563 



and leathery, rather than horny, as in the Coleoptera. They also differ from 

 the Coleoptera in the hind-wings being folded lengthwise, and not doubled 

 back at the tips, except in the earwigs and cockroaches, which some authors 

 consider to form two separate orders, distinct from the Orthoptera. 



In the Orthoptera the metamorphosis is incomplete, there being no inactive 

 pupa-state. The larva resembles the perfect insect, except in size, and in 

 the absence of wings. During the period which elapses be- 

 tween the last two moults, the insect possesses short wing Metamorphoses, 

 cases which enclose the undeveloped wings, and this stage is 

 considered to correspond to the pupa-state of insects with complete metamor- 

 phoses. The insect is, however, as active and voracious as in the larva state, 

 and is frequently termed a " nymph " by those who restrict the term " pupa " 

 to insects with complete metamorphoses. In the perfect insect the antennae 

 are usually slender, with well-marked joints, and are sometimes of great 

 length. 



The bulk of the Orthoptera are plant-feeding insects, but the Mantidfe, or 

 praying insects, are carnivorous, and the earwigs and cockroaches will eat 

 decaying animal as well as vegetable substances. This 

 order contains no parasitic insects, and scarcely any which Habits, 

 are directly harmful to man, but the economic injury oc- 

 casionally caused by locusts in many countries probably far exceeds that 

 due to the ravages of all other insects put together. These insects are 

 generally voracious in all their stages after leaving the egg. 



The Orthoptera are one of the least numerous orders of insects in species, 

 though most abundant in individuals, and are very poorly represented 

 in cold countries. In England we have only about sixty species, including 

 casual visitors, and introduced species. 



The Forficididce, or earwigs, much resembe the Staphylinidce among the 

 Coleoptera, and were actually included in the Coleoptera by Linnaeus. Their 

 tegmina are very short, and the large transparent wings 

 are folded beneath them, so as to be quite invisible when Earwigs 

 closed, except the projecting tips of the opaque part of the (ForficulidcK). 

 costa, which are of about the same colour and consistency as 

 the tegmina. At the end of the body there is always a peculiar appendage 

 like a forceps, which is more developed in the male than in the female, and 

 which is said to be used for folding and unfolding the wings. Many species, 

 however, are apterous, and others, though provided with ample wings, are 

 never seen to fly, though they may possibly use them only in 

 the darkness of night ; others, however (chiefly small 

 species) fly about by day. They are fond of concealing 

 themselves in any sort of crevice, and some -flowers, such 

 as dahlias and sunflowers, are greatly infested by them. 

 They have sometimes been known to creep into the human 

 ear, and there is no doubt that their popular name has 

 originated in this manner. They are generally dull reddish - 

 brown, unattractive-looking insects, though one or two East 

 Indian species are of a rich purple. They measure from half 

 an inch to rather over an inch in length ; the antennae are (Anisoiabi 

 generally of moderate length, and the legs are short. We maritima). 

 have figured a brown, apterous species, which has been in- 

 troduced into most parts of the world, and is occasionally found in England. 



The Blattidoe, or cockroaches, are another very isolated group. These are 



