BLATTA NIVEA. 



Plate XXXVI. fig. 1. 



Order : Orthoptera. Section : Cursoria. Family : Blattidae, Leach. 



Genus. Blatta, Linn. Sfc. 



Blatta Nivea. Alba, capite antennisque flavis thoracis dorso marglneque interno elytrorum flavesceutibus. 

 (Long. Corp. lin. 12.) 



Syn. 'BlaXta.Wnea., Linn. Syst.Nat.l.'i. De Geer Ins. 3. t.H.f. 10. Hefbst. Ardi. t. 49./. S. Fabr. Ent. 

 Sijst. 2. p. 8. 



Habitat: liew York (Drury). " In America insulis " (Fabr.). 



Head and antennae yellow. Thorax and abdomen pale green. Wings and wing-cases of a transpa- 

 rent white ; the latter having a yellow streak on the anterior margin, which seems to extend along the 

 margin of the thorax. Legs, and the under side of the abdomen, pale yellowish green. 



The family Blattidse, corresponding with the Linnsean genus Blatta, may be regarded as 

 containing one of the most obnoxious assemblages of our insect enemies. Of this family, 

 this and the two following figures represent diiferent species. The observations upon the 

 economy of this family, published by our author in the preface to this work, present the 

 most complete account of the ravages and obnoxious qualities of this tribe which has hitherto 

 been published. They are as follows : — 



" The cock-roaches are another race of pestiferous beings, equally noisome and mis- 

 chievous to natives or strangers, but particularly to collectors. These nasty and voracious 

 insects fly out in the evenings, and commit monstrous depredations ; they plunder and 

 erode all kinds of victuals, drest and undrest, and damage all sorts of clothing, especiallv 

 those which are touched with powder, pomatum, and similar substances ; every thing made 

 of leather, books, paper, and various other articles, which, if they do not destroy, at least 

 they soil, as they frequently deposit a drop of their excrement where they settle, and some 

 way or other, by that means damage what they cannot devour. They fly into the flame of 

 candles, and sometimes into the dishes ; are very fond of ink and of oil, into which they 

 are apt to fall and perish. In this case they soon turn most offensively putrid, so that a 

 man might as well sit over the cadaverous body of a large animal, as write with the ink in 

 which they have died. They often fly into persons' faces or bosoms, and their legs being 

 armed with sharp spines, the pricking excites a sudden horror not easily described. In old 

 houses they swarm by myriads, making every part filthy beyond description wherever they 

 harbour, which in the day time is in dark corners, behind all sorts of clothes, in trimks, 

 boxes, and, in short, every place where they can lie concealed. In old timber and deal 

 houses, when the family is retired at night to sleep, this insect, among other disagreeable 

 properties, has the power of making a noise which very much resembles a pretty smart 

 knocking with the knuckle upon the wainscotting. The Blatta Gigantea of Linnaeus in 

 the West Indies are therefore frequently known by the name of Drummers. Three or 

 four of these noisy creatures wiU sometimes be impelled to answer one another, and cause 



