196 NORTH AMERICAN BLATTIDAE 



of pronotum also frequently slightly paler. The ocellar spots are 

 not as large as in the adult condition, but still prominent, only dis- 

 appearing in the early instars. Ventral surface shading to buck- 

 thorn brown with a tawny tinge. 



The eggs of this species are inclosed in a transparent membrane, 

 which is found within the abdomen. The mass has the general 

 appearance of a partially formed ootheca. 



In addition to the large series from the United States, we have 

 examined nearly two hundred specimens of this species, chiefly 

 from the West Indies and Mexico, without finding a single male, 

 adult or immature, from the American continent.^-" The Ma- 

 laysian male before us has proportionately decidedly longer organs 

 of flight than any female at hand, and the sex may have very 

 diff^erent habits from the females, which, with the young, we have 

 often found burrowing on the surface of the ground, in dust or sand 

 under rocks, boards or other debris. The absence of even immature 

 males, among the very large American series of immature specimens 

 before us, may possibly indicate parthenogenesis; prolonged study 

 of living material must be undertaken before this problem can be 

 solved. 



The species is abundant in peninsular Florida and the Browns- 

 ville region of Texas. It has been found established as far north 

 as Jacksonville, Gainesville and Cedar Keys, Florida; New Or- 

 leans, Louisiana, and San Antonio, Texas. Elsewhere in the 

 United States the species has occasionally become temporarily 

 established in green-houses and places similarly artificially heated 

 during cold weather.^-' 



Specimens Examined: 126; 55 females and 71 immature females. 



Jacksonville, Florida, (T. J. Priddey), l 9, [Hebard Cln.]. 



St. Augustine, Fla., VIII, 19, 1905, (Rehn and Hebard), i 9, [Hebard Cln.]. 



Palatka, F!a., VIII, 19, 1915, (Rehn and Hebard), i 9, [Hebard Cln.]. 



Gainesville, Fla., VIII, 17, 1905, (Rehn and Hebard; in house), i 9 , [Hebard Cln.]. 



Cedar Keys, Fla., VIII, 15, 1905, (Rehn and Hebard), 3 9, [Hebard Cln.]. 



Tampa, Fla., I, 17, 1904, (Hebard), i juv. 9, [Hebard Cln.]. 



Punta Gorda, Fla., XI, 13, 191 1, (W. T. Davis; under board), i 9, [Hebard Cln.]. 



3-" Brunner states that not a siii;.i;le male was jjresent in his series of o\'er forty s{)eci- 

 niens from tropical America, and tliat lie had rcpresentati\es of that sex, only anions; 

 those which lielonged to the small condition found in (he luist Indies. Nouw S\st. 

 Jilatt., p. 2.S0, (1.S65). 



■*-' See page 269. 



