MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 207 



W. The Euplexoptera are nocturnal in their habits, 

 and often migrate in the evening in considerable 

 flocks ; they feed on fruits and flowers, and often 

 do great damage in gardens by depriving the petals 

 of dahlias, pinks, and carnations of their symmetry, 

 by their hungry bite, causing the florist to wage 

 against them a war of extermination. The female 

 Earwig sits on her eggs in the manner of a hen, 

 and after the young ones are hatched they follow 

 their mother, who continues to brood over them for 

 many days with true maternal solicitude. 



II. ORDER. — Earwigs (Euplexoptera). 



Fore-wings very small, coriaceous, without veins^ 

 horizontal, uniting in a straight suture ; hind-wings 

 large, membranous, with radiating nervures, and with 

 numerous transverse and longitudinal folds ; mouth 

 with transversely moveable jaws, hind pair galeated ; 

 tail armed with a forceps. Pupa semi-complete^ 

 active, with rudimentary wings. 



]. Family. — Earwigs (Forficulidge). Antennae long 7 

 slender, many-jointed; head moderate, flat, 

 narrowed behind into a short neck ; eyes 

 small, lateral ; ocelli none ; jaw^s small, robust, 

 notched near tip ; abdomen ending in a for- 

 ceps formed of two long, curved, horny ap- 

 pendages pointed at tip, and toothed on inner 

 margin. Fly by night ; feed on flowers 

 and fruits. 



