29 



British Cockroaches. 



By W. J. Lucas, B.A., F.E.S. Bead October 28th, 1915. 



By referring to previous volumes of Proceedings it will be found 

 that I have already read short papers on three of the subdivisions of 

 the Orthoptera— the Forficulodea (earwigs) in 1912, the Acridiodea 

 (short-horned grasshoppers) in 1913, and the Locustodea (long- 

 horned grasshoppers) in 19U. In this paper I propose to review 

 the Blattodea (cockroaches). 



On November 8th, 1900, a correspondent of the " Daily Mail " 

 said that "English kitchens breed dyspepsia, melancholia, influenza, 

 and family jars." In the evening the " Globe" added, "they also 

 breed blackbeetles." 



Blackbeetles ! As we have so often been told, this, the common 

 name of these insects, is not a happy one, since they are neither 

 black nor beetles. Another popular name— cockroach— seems 

 scarcely more appropriate, since the creatures bearing it have no 

 connection with either fowl or fish. The second name appears to be 

 derived from the Spanish word " cucaracha " '•=; but if this means 

 a " little berry," the fitness of the term again is not very apparent. 



Two colloquial names attached to an insect proclaim it a familiar 

 one; and it would seem that to the cockroaches the well-known 

 proverb may with justice be applied, which says that "familiarity 

 breeds contempt "—possibly even a stronger feeling still ! No doubt 

 few besides a limited number of entomologists have given close 

 attention to these insects, and we may therefore with advantage 

 spend a few moments in considering the British representatives of 

 the Blattodea, as this sub-order of the Orthoptera has been named. 



It is customary to divide the Orthoptera into seven groups, or 

 sub-orders : — 



1. Forficulodea (earwigs, etc.). 



2. Blattodea (cockroaches). 



3. Mantodea (praying insects). 



4. Phasinodea (stick insects). 



5. Gryllodea (crickets). 



6. LocHstddea (long-hoined grasshoppers). 



7. Acridiodea (short-horned grasshoppers). 



• Cucaracha, however, means " woodlousc " also, and a curled-up woodlouse 

 would not be eo very unlike a cockroach ootheca. 



