EARWIGS. 6 
the like places ; the young that hatch from these in the spring or early 
summer are much like their parents in shape, only without wings, 
and go through their changes like grasshoppers or other insects (which 
are nearly alike throughout their stages) up to the perfect condition. 
This perfect insect, in the case of most of the English species of 
Earwigs, is furnished with a large and beautifully formed pair of wings, 
elaborately folded under the small, somewhat square-cornered, wing- 
cases, hut, as far as can be gathered, these wings are—with all these 
kinds but one—not used, or little used, excepting at night. 
There are very few species in this country. Of these the 
Lahidiira or Forficesila gigantea, which is about an inch and a quarter long 
and a very doubtful native, is manifestly outside the present considera¬ 
tions. The Chelidiira, Latr., is so likewise, being wingless, which 
clearly distinguishes this kind from the perfect specimens received. 
Labia minor, or the lesser Earwig, which is stated by Stephens to be 
very abundant in the spring throughout the metropolitan district, and 
to be found flying about especially in the vicinity of dung-heaps, is 
the only kind stated to fly in the sunshine, and this is distinguished 
by various points of structure of the feet and horns from samples sent 
of the pests of the last summer. The kinds under consideration are 
therefore limited to the true Forjiculce, which it is stated “ very rarely 
fly in this country,” and this circumstance, and their objection to 
exposure to light, appear to be the foundation of all methods for de¬ 
stroying them. 
The following note on the subject was sent me by Mr. Ealph Lowe, 
of Sleaford :—“ Small heaps of straw laid at short intervals and fired 
in a still evening after a few days will destroy immense quantities of 
Earwigs and beetles. I have seen that plan resorted to rather ex¬ 
tensively with marked success in a few exceptionally trying seasons.” 
A German method of trapping, which is stated to be extremely 
successful, is to leave old field weed-baskets, made of split willow, 
standing for a day or so in one place. In the morning to knock these 
smartly on a smooth clear piece of ground, when such quantities of 
Earwigs fall out that it is difficult to stamp on them all before they 
escape. In this case the expedient of shaking the insects out over a 
tarred board would make much surer work than merely stamping on 
the escaping insects. 
On Aug. 10th Mr. Eayfield wrote to me as follows, regarding the 
plans then being tried at Sharsted for destroying the Earwigs then 
injuring the experimental Tobacco mentioned above :— 
“ We have several plans of catching these insects, but, although 
we have destroyed a very large quantity, it does not ajppear to diminish 
them. The plan that I have found to answer best is by hanging old 
bags on gates near the Tobacco or on stakes amongst the plants ; old 
