92 INSECTS AND HUMAN WELFARE 



ditions on shipboard where they are almost always numerous 

 in spite of attempts to eradicate them. Such being the case, 

 it is easy to see how they have found migration easy. Abun- 

 dant in almost every shop and house in cities of the tropics, 

 in cooler places they appear most commonly in places that 

 are kept warm and moist. As they are especially fond of 



FIG. 40. A common cricket. The male is well known 

 on account of his chirping noise. 



starchy and saccharine materials, bakeries, breweries and 

 sugar refineries frequently harbor them in large numbers 

 where they are a great nuisance. The repulsive cockroach 

 odor and flavor which is often imparted to food soon becomes 

 familiar to those who live or travel in tropical countries, and 

 may often be recognized in sugar from northern refineries. 



Not so far removed zoologically, from the cockroaches, 

 but of very different habits is the familiar and cheerful 

 cricket (Fig. 40) . These insects enter houses more commonly 

 in the autumn and are far more regular visitors in the country 

 than in cities. Their shrill chirping is an accomplishment of 

 the male sex only. It is produced like most noises made by 



