ORDEK, III. STRAIGHT- WINGED INSECTS. 117 



The MOLE-CRICKET (Achcta gryllotalpa) is larger than 

 either of the three species, being about two inches long, 

 and distinguished from the others by having very wide 

 mole-like fore feet, very short wings, and short hind legs. 

 Its body is of a grayish color, and its feet are brown. 



From the peculiar construction of its fore feet it may 

 readily be inferred that it acts in the same manner under 

 ground as the mole, and so it does ; it feeds on the roots of 

 plants, and is sometimes very injurious to our gardens and 

 meadows. This insect is scarcely ever seen above ground, 

 but its presence may easily be detected by the withering 

 blight that marks its subterranean ravages. We frequently 

 see large spots of grass in our meadows becoming yellow, 

 and drying up, because its roots are devoured by the Mole- 

 cricket, which dwells under it. These insects would prove 

 much more annoying and injurious to us, were they not 

 constantly being destroyed by moles, lizzards, and snakes. 



CockroacJies (Blatta). 



The COMMON COCKROACH (Blatta orientalis) has been so 

 universally known in the Old and the New World for ages, 

 that it is almost impossible to ascertain whence it first orig- 

 inated. Suffice it to say that it has a flat body, about an 

 inch long, of a dirty yellow or black color, and long awl- 

 shaped antennae, each of which is composed of eighty joints. 



Cockroaches, as is well known, are very voracious, and 

 devour every thing that comes in their way, and as they 

 are at the same time very prolific, they should always be 

 destroyed when encountered. This may be done by pour- 

 ing boiling water upon them, or suffocating them with sul- 

 phur smoke. Many houses in St. Petersburg have been so 

 infested with them that it has actually been necessary to 

 burn them down in order to get rid of these noxious in- 

 sects. 



