i86 
INSECTS. 
germanica ) is another imported species, said to have first arrived with the soldiers, 
returning from the Crimean War, but now plentiful in some houses, especially in 
bakeries and restaurants. It may be distinguished by its smaller size, and pale- 
yellow-brown colour, with two dark brown bands along the pronotum. Both sexes- 
have wings. In some parts of Central Europe they live in woods, resembling in 
this respect many other species, including three, belonging to the genus Ectobia , 
found in woods in England. One of the latter (E. lapponica ) enters houses in 
some parts of Europe. 
The earwigs ( Forjiculidce ), which form the last family of 
Cursorial Orthoptera, possess distinct characters, and are sometimes 
treated as a separate order, under the name of Dermaptera. Easily recognised by 
the narrow body, short, squarely cut horny elytra, and the pincer-like appendages 
of their abdomen, these insects are further distinguished by the intricate folding 
of the hind - wings. The 
elytra, or fore-wings, do not 
overlap one another as in 
most Orthoptera, but, like 
those of beetles, simply meet 
by their edges along the 
middle line. The hind-wings, 
which are thin and mem¬ 
branous throughout most of 
their extent, are folded, partly 
like a fan, by means of folds 
radiating; from near the middle 
of the anterior margin, and 
also transversely. In this way they occupy a small space, and are almost com¬ 
pletely covered by the elytra, a tiny piece only being left projecting behind. 
When fully expanded, each wing is somewhat elliptic in outline, with a straighten 
anterior and more rounded posterior margin. To these characters it is only 
necessary to add that the tarsi are three-jointed, and the ligula of the lower lip 
is deeply divided, to form two long lobes. This family is represented in almost 
all parts of the world, but not more than two or three species are commonly 
met with in Britain. The species are distinguished chiefly by the size and 
shape of their forceps, the length and number of joints of the antennae, the 
state of development of the wings (which in some species are altogether 
wanting), the length and shape of the tarsal joints, and other characters. 
The common earwig (Forftcula auricularia), found all over Europe, is the best 
known species. The female is usually smaller than the male, and her forceps 
are shorter, and without teeth at the base. Her eggs are laid under stones, 
moss, or in other such places; and she watches over them with care. It was 
long ago observed that the female earwig sits over her eggs, like a hen in a 
nest, and if they happen to get scattered, gathers them all together again. The 
young larvae when hatched keep close to her, clustering under her body, and 
sometimes climbing on to her back. They are not very unlike their mother in 
appearance, but are without wings, and of much smaller size. The large earwig 
1, MALE OF THE LARGE EARWIG ; 2, THE COMMON EARWIG, WITH 
AN ENLARGED FIGURE OF THE FLYING INSECT. 
