25 



The Blattari^ of Australia and Polynesia. 



By J. G. O. Tepper, F.L.S., &c. 



[Read March 7, 1893.] 



Introduction. 



The Blattarle form a section of the heterogeneous order of 

 the Orthoptera, and are now usually placed as the second in 

 the series, the Forficularia3 or Earwigs preceding them. They 

 have been so designated by Latreill'e, Serville, and Fisher, while 

 Burmeister calls them Blattina, Stephen terms them Blattid.e, 

 and Brunner van Wattenwyl in his " Prodromus of European 

 Orthoptera " modifies the term to Blattodea. Popularly they 

 are called Cockroaches or Black Beetles by the English ; Schahen 

 by the Germans, and Kakerlaks by the French. Palseontologic- 

 ally the cockroaches appertain to the most ancient insects known, 

 impressions of wings, &c., having been found in the Carboni- 

 ferous (i.e. J true coal-bearing) strata of Europe and America. 

 At the present time they are distributed over the whole earth, 

 except the polar and alpine regions, and embrace numerous species 

 arranged by Brunner into eleven families, to which I have added 

 another. 



The affinities and ditferences of the suborders of Orthoptera, 

 as summarised by modern authors, are best indicated by the 

 following synopsis : — 



1. Organs of flight in normal position during the larval stage- 

 Legs, inclusive of posterior femora, fitted for running) 

 rarely for burrowing). Ovipositor concealed by a sub- 

 genital lamina. All voiceless. 

 2. Wings, when present, folded tranversely in the middle 

 of the anterior margin. Tarsi with three joints, 

 arolia none. Cerci corneous, resembling and 

 actina: as forceps. ForjicidaricB. 



2.2. AVings, when present, folded longitudinally from the 

 base. Tarsi five-jointed, with arolia. Cerci soft, 

 more or less distinctly jointed. 

 3. Body depressed. Head retracted. Pronotum 

 shield-like ; transverse. Legs compressed. 

 Cerci articulate. Insects fitted for swift- 

 running, rarely for burrowing. Blattarice. 



