52 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



As might be expected, there is much diversity to be found 

 amongst the members of so ancient a group of insects. Conse- 

 quently it is necessary to subdivide the Orthoptera into a number 

 of Groups or Suborders. Those which contain British represen- 

 tatives are : — Forficulodba (Earwigs, &c.) ; Blattodea (Cock- 

 roaches) ; Gryllodea (Crickets) ; Locustodea (Long-horned 

 Grasshoppers) ; Acridiodea (Short-horned Grasshoppers), The 

 Mantodea (Praying Insects) and Phasmodea (Leaf and Stick 

 Insects) are not represented in these Islands. 



Of the seven British Forficulodea (all Earwigs) Surrey is able 

 to claim four, while two of the others— La6ia arachidis, Yers. 

 (indoors), and Apterygida alhipennis, Meg. — are quite likely to 

 occur. 



Anisolahis annulipes, Lucas, is a dark wingless species which 

 sometimes breeds in this country under artificial conditions. It 

 has been accidentally imported with plants into Kew Gardens, 

 but so far has not established itself there. 



Labia minor, Linn., is often taken on the wing, flying round 

 cucumber-beds, manure-heaps, &c., in the sunshine. Kecords 

 are: Kew Gardens, April 14th, 1897 (W. J. L.) ; Kingston-on- 

 Thames, April 27th, 1897 and June 2nd, 1899 (W. J. L.) ; 

 Surbiton, July 14th, 1907 (W. J. L.) ; Wandsworth, August 

 15th, 1889 (Eland Shaw) ; Southwark Street, near Blackfriars 

 Bridge, September 30th, 1908 (F. M. Dyke) ; Oxshott, October 

 3rd, 1908 (S. E. Ashby) ; Headley Lane, an example with large 

 callipers (A. J. Chitty) ; Leatherhead (C. A. Briggs) ; Dormans 

 (M. Burr); Reigate (E. Saunders); Dorking (H. L. F. Guer- 

 monprez). 



Forficida auricidaria, Linn., is one of our commonest insects, 

 and is universally distributed. An interesting form — the variety 

 named forcipata — has very highly developed callipers. A dark 

 specimen of the typical form was taken, August 5th, 1900, by 

 Mr. F. B. Jennings at Boxhill. While this earwig feeds 

 normally on insects and animal food of a similar nature, it often 

 does damage to dahlias, hops, and other cultivated plants. 

 This insect and the next hybernate in the perfect form. 



Forficida lesnei, Finot, is something like the common earwig, 

 but is rather smaller, is brighter in colour, and has no wings. 

 Its callipers, too, are of a different shape. It has been taken at 

 Boxhill and Reigate (W. West) ; near Leatherhead (W. J. 

 Ashdown) ; at Ranmore (W. J. L.) ; Merrow Downs, between 

 Guildford and Newlands Corner (J. J. Walker). 



All but one of the Blattodea known to breed in Britain have 

 been found in Surrey, the one exception being the smallest 

 indigenous species, Ectobiun panzeri, Steph. If this occurs so 

 far inland, it should be expected on heathy ground. The genus 

 Ectohius alone is native. 



