HABITS OF THE EARWIG. 



479 



creature with wonderful precision, and used as deftly as if they were fingers and 

 directed by eyes. The Earwigs seldom fly except by night, and it is not very easy to 

 see them pack up their wings. Some of the smaller species, however, are day-fliers, 

 and in spite of their tiny dimensions, may be watched without much difficulty. 



Earwigs feed on vegetable matter, especially preferring the corollas of flowers. Pinks, 

 carnations, and dahlias are often damaged greatly by these insects, which sometimes 

 occur in vast quantities, and ruin the appearance of a well-tended flower-bed. For- 

 tunately for the florist, the habits of these insects are constant, and they can be de- 

 stroyed in great numbers by those who desire to kill them. Being intolerant of light, 

 they avoid the sunshine by every means in their power, and creep into every crevice 

 that may hide them from the unwelcome light. 



In consequence they are fond of crawling among the thick and shadowy petals of the 

 dahlia, and are frequently found in the slender spur of the nasturtium, so that any one 





FIELD CRICKET. G/y//us ounpesfr/s. 

 MOLE CRICKET,-Or>'//o<a/pa vuJfcarte. GIANT E ARWI(j.-For//cu/a (or Labidura) gigtate*. 



who is about to eat one of these flowers will do well to examine the spur before he 

 makes the attempt. Knowing these habits, horticulturists catch them by hundreds by 

 the simple plan of placing lobsters' claws, bits of hollow reed, and similar objects, on 

 the tops of sticks, knowing that the Earwigs will crawl into them at the dawn of day, 

 and may be shaken out and killed when the gardener goes his rounds. 



The Earwig is remarkable for a parental affection quite exceptional in the insect 

 race, the mother watching over her eggs until they are hatched, and after the young 

 have entered the world, taking as much care of them as a hen takes of her chicken. 



There are about seven or eight British species, some of them being of very small size. 

 I have often seen them flying about at midday, when they might easily be mistaken 

 for beetles. They have several times alighted on the sleeve of my coat, and afforded 

 good opportunities of watching the curious manner in which the wings are tucked under 

 their cases. The largest British species is that which is given in the illustration. It is 



