of the Common Earwig (Forficula auricularia) 55 



mutton suet substituted for it was eaten readily and extensively. 

 In the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, xxvi, No. 2, 

 May, 1919, p. 688, F. P. Connor records an unnamed earwig at 

 Amara catching moths in its forcipes and in one case nibbUng its 

 prey. F. Maxwell Lefroy {Indian Insect Life, p. 52) remarks: 

 "The function of the forcipes is a mystery that will be cleared up 

 only when their food habits and general hfe are better under- 

 stood." They are very possibly "frightening" as well as defensive 

 organs. Pemberton {Hawaiian Planters' Record, Honolulu, xxi, 

 No. 4, Oct. 1919, pp. 194-221) mentions the benefit to cane fields 

 arising from the destruction of the leaf-hopper parasite Perkin- 

 siella optabilis by the black earwig Chelisoches morio. 



The importance of nocturnal observations on the feeding habits 

 of Forficula auricularia to a satisfactory understanding of the 

 economic effects of this insect in gardens, urged in my previous 

 paper, may be referred to again. 



