THE COMMON DOMESTIC ROACHES. 



The four roaches which have been made the subject of iUustra- 

 tions represent the species which occur most commonly in houses, 

 bakeries, or on shipboard. The numerous tropical house species, 

 many of which are perhaps only partially domesticated, and the 

 subarctic roach of high altitudes and of the extreme north have 

 been omitted. 



The American roach {Periplaneta americana) (fig. 1) is the 

 native or indigenous species of this continent, originating, it is sup- 

 posed, in tropical or subtropical America. 



The ancient and rather quaint account of this insect ' quoted below 

 in a footnote indicates that this species early came to the notice of 

 our forefathers. Its domesticity doubtless resulted from ages of 

 association with the aborigines. It has now become thoroughly 

 cosmopolitan, and is unquestionably the most injurious and annoy- 

 ing of the species occurring on vessels. It is sometimes numerous 

 also in greenhouses, causing considerable injury to tender plants. 

 It is a notorious house pest and occasionally vies with the German 

 roach in its injuries to book bindings. One of the most serious cases 

 of injury of this sort was reported b}^ the Treasury Department. 

 The backs, sometimes entirely, of both cloth and leather bound 

 books were eaten off to get at the starchy paste used in the binding. 

 {Insect Life, Vol. I, p. 07-70.) 



This roach is very abundant in the Middle and Western States, 

 where until recently it has been practicall}^ the only troublesome house 

 species. In the East it is not often so common as are one or other 

 of the following species and especially germanica. In foreign 

 countries it has not become widespread and is largely confined to 

 seaport towns. In size it is larger than any of the other domestic 

 species, and it is light brown in color, the wings being usually long, 

 powerful, and well developed in both sexes. 



The Australian roach {Periplaneta australasice) resembles very 

 closely the last species, but differs striking in the brighter and more 

 definitely limited yellow band on the prothorax and in the yellow 



' The cockroach. — These are very troublesome and destructive vermin, and are 

 so numerous and voracious that it is impossible to keep Victuals of any kind 

 from being devoured by them without close covering. They are fiat, and so 

 thin that few chests or boxes can exclude them. They eat not only leather, 

 parchment, and woollen, but linen and paper. They disappear in Winter and 

 appear most numerous in the hottest days in Summer. It is at night thej' com- 

 mit their depredations, and bite people in their beds, especially children's fingers 

 that are greasy. They lay innumerable eggs, creeping into the holes of old 

 walls and rubbish, where they lie torpid all the Winter. Some have wings and 

 others are without— perhaps of different Sexes. (Catesby: Nat. Hist. Carolina, 

 1748, Vol. II, p. 10.) 



