M FAMILY II.-COCKROACHES. 



brown, with paler and indistinct bands on the pronotum. 

 The wings are unusually long, and both wing-covers a.nd 

 wings are well developed in both sexes, extending beyond 

 the tip of the abdomen. The legs are much lighter in color 

 than the body. 



It is not often found in our houses, and onlv in largfer 

 cities. It seem that very severe cold will kill it, hence it is 

 from time to time exterminated. It occurs most frequently 

 in stores where bananas are kept and sold, and it is very likely 

 that it is re-introduced ever\'' year with this fruit which also 

 harbors many other things. [Itwillsurprise the reader to hear 

 that the following natural-liistory objects have been found 

 hidden in banana bunches in the cit\^ of Minneapolis: a 

 y^oung snake {Boa constrictor), 14 inches long; a large 

 crab, four inches across the back ; two species of scorpions ; 

 several large thousand-legs (Scolopendra); some large and 

 black cockroaches ; several large and hairy bird-spiders, 

 usually called tarantula, and many other smaller insects and 

 other beings.] 



The Amei'ican cockroach is sometimes very injurious in 

 greenhouses, where it destroys tender plants. Being found 

 in large numbers on vessels it has found a home in many 

 seaport towns in foreign countries. 



THE AUSTRALIAN COCKROACH, 



{Feriplaneta australasige) , 



resembles the American species very closely, but possesses a 

 brighter and more clearly defined a'cIIow band on the pro- 

 thorax, and a \'e!low dash on the upper wings. Though 

 more troublesome in the south it has also found a home 

 in more northern regions, and is fast becoming a cosmo- 

 politan. It may occur here from time to time, being intro- 

 duced with goods from southern cities. This species is 

 shown in Fig. 56. 



As already mentioned, not infrequently foreign species 

 of cockroaches are found hiding in bunches of bananas. As 



