i2o First Report on Economic Zoology . 
seldom flies. A smaller species, Labia minor , uses its wings mucli more 
freely. The food of earwigs is very varied, they are both carnivorous 
and herbivorous ; hops, fruit, snails, slugs, flowers, leaves, etc., form 
their bill of fare as a rule. 
“ They are mostly nocturnal in habits, hiding away during the day 
in crevices in walls, woodwork, etc., under the bark of trees, under 
clods of earth, and any shelter upon the ground. They lay their eggs 
in a hole in the ground, about twenty to thirty yellowish ova being 
placed together. Some authorities say the female * looks after these 
eggs and the young for some time. They take from two to four 
weeks to incubate. The young are at first very pallid and wingless, 
but after several moults they reach the mature winged form. The 
winter is passed in the adult stage, the insects hibernating under the 
bark of trees, beneath rubbish, etc. They become noticeable in the 
latter part of the summer, especially in August, but may be found 
much sooner. The small Earwig {Labia minor) flies in the day-time 
as well as at night. 
“ With regard to their destruction, ‘trapping’ is the most successful 
method. Place some baskets filled with straw or dry moss under the 
windows and some flower pots filled with moss on the window sills. 
These should be examined in the day-time and the insects collected 
and destroyed. I do not think you could employ any chemical, as 
they get into so many places of a day-time ; but by ‘ trapping ’ you 
will get rid of the nuisance, especially if you put a plum or other 
fruit in each pot.” 
SUB-GEOUP B. 
Acarine Household Pests. 
(Glyciphagus domesticus and G. spinipes). 
Several instances of acarine pests have been reported. Mr. 
White writes from Birmingham, “ This mite is a veritable plague in 
my house.” It proved to be the Glyciphagus domesticus, I)e Geer 
(the G. cursor of Gervais). 
Another correspondent wrote from Walthamstow as follows : — 
“ I have upholstered a suite for my firm which has been sent into 
the country, and since it has been in the customer’s possession it has 
developed a small insect as sample sent on enclosed piece of banding 
. . . my firm seem to think I have been using dirty material, but it 
is nothing of the kind.” 
The mites sent were identified by Albert Michael, Esq., as 
