68 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I4I 



species is common under planks, stones, and other debris on the 

 ground . . . also found at Long Key in the dry fibres at the base of 

 the petioles of a coconut palm" (Rehn and Hebard, 1912). At Musa 

 Isle, found burrowing in sand (Hebard, 1915). In fallen leaves and 

 decaying wood in xeric and mesic hammock habitats (Friauf, 1953). 



Hawaii. — The soil swarmed with young of various stages during the 

 summer (Illingworth, 1915). In soil about roots of pineapple under 

 mulching paper ; feeding on pineapple roots (Illingworth, 1927, 1929). 



Fakarava, Tuainoto Archipelago. — Numerous among dead leaves in 

 tree holes (Cheesman, 1927). 



West Indies. — Under decayed stalks of sugarcane and in siftings 

 from mangrove swamps, Cuba. Under manure, bases of leaves of 

 coconut palm, litter, logs, and stones on coral rock and in bromeliads, 

 Jamaica. Under wood, tiles, and boards in stable yards ; immature in- 

 dividuals bored into the soil, Puerto Rico. (Rehn and Hebard, 1927.) 



Barbados. — Frequents cane fields (Tucker, 1952). 



Puerto Rico. — "Altho primarily a xerophytic species : collected 

 among dry stones on Mona Island, under dry cow dung at Boqueron, 

 and under boxes at Guanica, it is reasonably common in the more 

 humid parts of Puerto Rico" (Wolcott, 1950). 



Virgin Islands, St. Croix. — Common under rubbish ; frequently seen 

 feeding on chicken feces around chicken roosts (Beatty, 1944). By 

 feeding on chicken feces it may become the vector of the chicken eye- 

 worm, Oxyspimra mansoni, as described in the references cited on 

 page 204. 



Egypt. — Large numbers were found in moist soil at the site of a 

 manure pile (Chakour, 1942). 



Germany. — Under greenhouse conditions the depth to which P. 

 surinamensis penetrated the soil was determined; 21 dug down to a 

 depth of 8 to 10 cm., 3 dug down 10 to 12 cm., but only one dug 13 cm. 

 below the surface. Often the tubes in the soil ended in a chamber 

 which the cockroach might not leave for several days ; nymphs molted 

 in such chambers and females bore their young there (Roeser, 1940). 



Rhytidometopum dissimile 



Trinidad. — Male on low herbage in orchard at night ; under sacking ; 

 on Hibiscus at night (Princis and Kevan, 1955). 



Riatia orientis 



Trinidad. — Numerous specimens of both sexes at night on roadside 

 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis or low herbage in orchard (Princis and Kevan, 



1955)- 



