1106 Marvels of the Universe 
This beneficial work is always carried on at night. It is no uncommon sight to the entomologist 
to find a goodly company of Earwigs feeding upon the “ sugar” spread on the tree-trunks to attract 
the moths. On several occasions I have found them with their wings spread wide open, and stuck 
fast to the sticky sugar. On warm, windy nights, a trap consisting of a tarred board set up in a 
garden may arrest the flight of these Earwigs. We have an Earwig much smaller than our 
familiar common species, that flies actively in the hot sunshine, and whose wings are very similar, 
but not so delicately formed. 
Now that we have given our evidence to the fact that Earwigs have wings, let us spend a short 
time in examining these wonderful organs, and I venture to think that we shall find that we can 
admire the marvellous way in which they are fashioned, spread out and folded up. 
Looking at an Earwig as it walks along, it appears to be divided into four parts—the head, showing 
the eyes, antenne or feelers and the mouth ; next, the shield-like thorax, to which are attached the 
six legs, the two horny wing-cases, and the two 
wonderful wings, of which the tips only are seen, 
resting on the shiny brown body, which is termi- 
nated by the two powerful pincers. The latter 
are used as organs of defence, and also to assist 
in unfolding and folding up the wings. 
It is a delicate operation to unfold and spread 
out these wings, and requires the greatest care 
lest the membrane be torn; but if the student 
desires to understand how they ave folded, he 
must be prepared to spend considerable time and 
patience before he can unfold one out to its fullest 
extent, and then fold it up again ! 
We will suppose that, after sacrificing a large 
number of Earwigs in our endeavours, we have 
at last succeeded in opening out one to its fullest 
extent, as shown on page 1108, and our astonish- 
ment at the extent of each wing is very real, and 
more so when we realize that this beautiful 
piece of mechanism adorns the much-despised 
[By I’. Chapman. Earwig ! 
A jointed seaweed whose fronds are encrusted with Now, Ie a take FE ae ee ne Wine: 
eae, colidh Indies fa dea to Ieikl wo dick fed ot JMuiSE, We ttimel mE ts aneacned t wns lochy ny a 
HERCREORS, leathery-looking piece forming part of the 
“armour” of the thorax, the internal ends of this piece being connected with the flexor and 
extensor muscles which control the opening and closing of the wings, together with all the delicate 
connections to each nerve, in a truly marvellous manner. 
The two horny wing-cases are held open in front, to be out of the way, so that the true wings 
are, when expanded, flat and flimsy. Immediately in front and joined to the thorax, is a horny 
rib or stiffener, which acts the same as a spring in an umbrella, which, as we all know, must reach a 
certain point before the umbrella is fully expanded or before it will remain open. At the dip of this 
stiffener, we see a number of ribs radiating to the outer margin of the wing. These ribs or creases 
do not all reach the centre point, and at about one-third of the width of the wing a crease runs all 
round parallel to the outer margin. 
HALIMEDA. 
Now, so long as the Earwig desires the stiffener keeps the wing taut—just as does the spring in 
an open umbrella. If we desire to close the umbrella we must press the spring, and the ribs and 
material immediately fall into folds. 
