THE ENTOMOLOGIST 



Vol. XLIL] AUGUST, 1909. [No. 555 



OKTHOPTEKA IN 1908. 



By W. J. Lucas, B.A., F.E.S. 



But little of special interest seems to have come under ob- 

 servation during 1908 in connection with the British Orthoptera. 

 All we can say is that we have obtained a little more informa- 

 tion as to the range of the species, and that some additions, also 

 slight, have been made to our knowledge in regard to their 

 habits. 



Earwigs. — On August 10th three specimens of Labidura 

 riparia, one being a large male, were captured four or five miles 

 from the spot on the shore near Bournemouth where they are 

 usually found, and on August 12th Mr. A. H. Hamm obtained a 

 specimen at a spot between these two localities. In life these 

 earwigs are of a dirty cream tint, with a little darker colouring 

 in places, and therefore are extremely well hidden from casual 

 observation by their resemblance to the pale yellow sand which 

 fringes the shore. They do not, however, lay themselves open 

 to detection, as they remain in hiding during the day. One of 

 those captured on August 10th was set free, when it ran very 

 rapidly over the sand and soon found a crevice in which to hide. 

 Feeding of course takes place at night. The large male, as well 

 as the third one mentioned above, were kept alive under observa- 

 tion, being fed on animal food. The male ate rapidly ofit a 

 small portion of kipper given it, and was equally satisfied with 

 whiting. It fed freely also for a time off a fragment of rabbit. 

 Although it attacked white of egg, it appeared to have no great 

 liking for it. On my return they were taken to Kingston, but on 

 September 27th the large individual was found to have almost 

 entirely consumed the smaller one, although they had been living 

 together for some time. In November the survivor paid a visit 

 to South Woodford for a week or two, Mr. Main wishing to 

 obtain its portrait. At the beginning of December it did not 

 appear to be feeding. When food was placed in the box with it • 

 no movement was made at first, but in one to two minutes 

 it roused itself, waved its antennae, turned towards and then 



ENTOM. — AUGUST, 1909. R 



