ORTHOPTERA. BLATTIDiE. 423 



lapponica abounds; and, as these insects are found in company together, 

 it has been conjectured that the former is the parasite of the latter, 

 (Curtis, B. E. 257.) I have received an Evania, apparently identical 

 with E. appendigaster, from Mr. R. H. Lewis, with the observation, 

 "Taken at sea, parasitic on a large Blatta, which infests ships," I have 

 also received from Mr. W. Baird specimens of a small species of Eulo- 

 phus (with simple antennae in both sexes), of which about seventy in- 

 dividuals bui'st forth from a capsule of Blatta americana, in which the 

 eggs of the parasite must have been deposited during the voyage.* In 

 a preceding species, I have given an account of a Coleopterous insect, 

 which is also parasitic on the Blattas (Synibius Blattarum). ( Vide ante, 

 p. 295.) The house-cricket is also said to be one of its enemies ; but, 

 according to Gilbert White, there seems to be no real reason for the 

 statement. There are also several species of birds which greedily de- 

 vour the cockroaches ; and the common hedgehog is often kept in con- 

 finement for the purpose of destroying them. Simla Jacchus Lhm. 

 will also feed on them in default of fruit. {Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. i. p. 16.) 



M. Berendt has published a memoir on the species " des Blattes 

 antediluviennes," observed by him in yellow amber, (Atin. Soc. Ent. 

 France, 1836, p. 539, pi. 16.) 



Latreille divided these insects into two genera ; those with perfect 

 wings, and those in which one sex at least " est privee d ailes, telles 

 que la B.orientalis" {R.An. torn. v. p, 175.), forming the latter into the 

 genus Kakerlac, which is the name given to these insects in the French 

 colonies. From the barbarous nature of this name, Fischer has rejected 

 it, proposing that of Steleopyga in its stead. Serville, in his review 

 of the order, has divided the family into eight genera, adopting that of 

 Latreille's Kakerlac, and giving the small indigenous species under tlie 

 generic name of Blatta; but, as the Blatta orientalis ought evidently 

 to be retained as the type of the genus Blatta, I have considered the 

 names of Kakerlac" and Steleopyga as synonyms, and have proposed 

 another name for the small species. 



Amongst the exotic genera arc to be noticed Phoraspis, composed 

 of Brazilian species, with a pale stripe down the wing-covers ; Pseu- 

 domops, having the base of the antennae strongly setose ; and Peri- 

 sphaeria, having the body contracted into a ball. 



* At tlic meeting of the Entomological Society, October 1st, 1S;>S, j\Ir. Sells 

 cxliil)ited ninety-four specimens of a small Pteromaliis, extracted from one capsule. 



E K 4' 



