THE ENTOMOLOGIST 



Vol. XXXIL] DECEMBER, 1899. [No. 439 



ORTHOPTERA IN 1899. 



By W. J. Lucas, B.A., F.E.S. 



(Plate III.) 



Though the British Orthoptera number but some forty-two, 

 yet they are so varied in form and habits, and several species are 

 so numerous in individuals, that every naturalist must make the 

 acquaintance of some, either at home or in his collecting excur- 

 sions. Consequently a few notes on certain of the more interesting 

 that have been met with during the past twelve months cannot 

 be out of place now that we are nearing the close of the year — 

 season we must not say, since some of the Orthoptera are always 

 with us year in and year out. 



Forficula lesnei has already been noticed (ante, pp. 16, 20, 275). 



It may not be welcome news that a new locality for Periplaneta 

 australasice has to be announced, but the fact remains that a 

 couple were forwarded alive in February last from an orchid- 

 house at Camberwell. This cockroach is no doubt increasing in 

 frequency in Britain. Luckily it is rather a handsome species, 

 and, moreover, seems to prefer warm conservatories to dwelling 

 houses. In Kew Gardens, on Oct. 28th, a male was taken off a 

 flower-pot standing in the Victoria regia tank, with the yellow 

 markings on the pronotum reduced to a thin distal line and a 

 basal three-pointed spot not very bright in colour. 



Ectobia panzeri was taken in a new locality, amongst the sand- 

 hills in the neighbourhood of Studland, in Dorset. The spot 

 was quite close to the shore, a habitat which the insect evidently 

 likes. It is plentiful, however, in the New Forest some miles 

 from the coast. Ectobia lapponica was secured by sweeping in 

 the forest at the beginning of June. 



Numerous were the unsolicited visitors to the lepidopterists' 

 treacle at the beginning of August in the New Forest, both at 



ENTOM. — DECEMBER, 1899. 2 D 



