90 FAMILY II.— COCKROACHES. 



GENUS Blatta, Linn. 



Insects belonging here possess a pad (pulrillus) between 

 the claws of the feet ; the seventh sternum of the abdomen 

 is entire in both sexes; the sub-anal st\des are rudimentar 

 In the males. 



THE CKOTOX BUG. 



{Blatta germanica Fab.). 



Few insects are better known than this household pest, 

 which now occurs almost everywhere, not alone in the larger 

 cities but in the smaller ones as well. Originally from the 

 orient it found a home long ago in Europe, and has since 

 spread to all civilized regions of the globe. As nearly all 

 vessels, and especially steamers, offer numerous shelters near 

 steam and water pipes, these insects can readily spread from 

 port to port. The name "Croton bug" originated in the 

 City of New^ York, and was suggested by the fact that the 

 insects became very numerous in houses containing water 

 pipes connected with the Croton aqueduct. 



The insects are light brown or dull yellowish, with a 

 yellowish brown head and long yellowish antennge; the pro- 

 notum is marked with two longitudinal black stripes. The 

 wing-covers and wings extend be^'ond the tip of the abdo- 

 men. 



About 36 eggs are enclosed in a capsule, which is carried 

 about for a long lime by the mother. It is stated that wdien 

 the young cockroaches hatch, the mother assists them to 

 escape from the ootheca. The j^oung insects are perfecth^ 

 white at first, but soon acquire their normal color. The}^ 

 have to shed their skins six times before they reach their full 

 size, which takes from four to five months. Alter each mo t 

 the still soft insects are white, and are frequentl}^ called 

 "Albino roaches." Although nocturnal in their habits they 

 do not avoid the daylight as much as other species of cock- 

 roaches, and ma}' frequently' be seen moving about during 



