14 Insect Life : Its Why and Wherefore 
and observed it closely, you will perceive 
two little spikes projecting from the wing 
covers in the back ; these are really 
portions of the wing. 
Great difficulty is found always in making 
the earwig spread its wings voluntarily, 
but we can force the wing case open and 
disclose its wonderful contents by blowing 
smartly under the wing covers in the 
direction of the insect’s head. When you 
have thoroughly examined these lovely 
gauze-like wings the first question that you 
will ask yourself is, How are they put 
back ? They have to be carefully folded 
and replaced. You do the insect no injury 
at all by causing it in the way described 
to disclose the wings, but you may do it 
infinite harm if you, with your clumsy 
fingers, attempt to assist in the refolding 
process. Simply watch. It will shake the 
wing into a number of perfect folds. Then 
come into play what many ignorantly 
describe as its terrible pincers or forceps. 
By means of these forceps, which it uses 
almost as fingers and thumbs, it seems to 
take out the plaits and smoothes out the 
creases, refolds the wings and pushes them 
