52 
ORTHOPTERA. 
Lahidura lividipes and L. riparia, fly at night and come frequently to 
light, the only Forficulids observed to have this habit. They are not 
formed for actual burrowing, but are part of the Fauna of the surface of 
the ground, as are the Carabidce , Blattidce, Tenebrionidce , Lygceidce , etc.; 
less is known of this “ surface fauna” than of any other, from the great 
difficulty of observation. The function of the forceps is a mystery that 
will be cleared up only when their food-habits and general life are 
better understood. It has been suggested that the forceps, though 
not actual weapons of defence, appear as such and give the insect a more 
formidable appearance which protects them against the enemies that 
occur in their habitat; a few species can actually use their forceps as 
feeble pinching organs and the power to do so may have been more 
fully developed in the more primitive species; there is also some 
reason to believe that the forceps are useful in carrying out the rather 
complex folding of the hind wing; neither explanation is a satisfactory 
one. 
Earwigs are most active in the rains and damp weather, being de¬ 
pendent upon moderately damp conditions ; in irrigated lands they are 
active throughout the year except when cold drives them to hibernation 
in shelter, as happens in colder parts of the plains. There appear to be 
no definite seasons for reproduction, and individuals of different ages 
may be found at any time. None are recorded as pests in India, though 
they are often believed to be injurious owing to their habit of coming 
to wounded tissues of plants to obtain sap ; they are thus found under 
very compromising conditions, but investigation has shown that the in¬ 
jury was caused by other insects, and there is no reason to believe that 
any can be regarded as pests. A few are constant frequenters of the 
sea-shore and are found almost throughout the world among the sea¬ 
weed and debris thrown up on the beach. 
Earwigs are found throughout the temperate and tropical parts of 
the globe ; they are less common in India than in other countries, but a 
fair number of species are already known from India. They do not fall 
into well-marked sub-families and may be regarded as a distinct and 
fairly homogeneous family. Bormans and Krauss describe 76 species 
from India including Burmah, the majority being Burmese species. 
Kirby’s catalogue gives only 48 as Indian, and more have been described 
