268 INSECTS 



Periplaneta americana, Linn. Cockroach, Yellow Roach 



This species, which is now cosmopolitan in its distribution, is a 

 native of tropical America. It is a common cockroach on board 

 ships. Mr Howes says it is occasionally taken in seaport towns, 

 where it comes off boats, amongst goods, etc. He has picked it up 

 in fruit auction rooms in various parts of New Zealand. 



Family 



Orthodera ministralis, Fabr. Mantis 



Some time prior to 1860, Dr Sinclair took egg-cases of this 

 Australian insect to England ; they were found apparently in Auckland. 

 In 1873-74, Captain Hutton observed it at Clyde in Central Otago; 

 Mr W. Colenso recorded it from Napier in 1878; Mr Potts found it 

 in Canterbury in 1880; Mr Hudson found it in Nelson in 1886, and 

 in Wellington in 1891 ; Dr Hilgendorf in 1916 says that it is common, 

 but overlooked on account of its protective colouring; and in 1919 

 Mr W. W. Smith says it is common in Taranaki, while Mr Howes 

 reports it from Oamaru. It seems, therefore, to be pretty generally 

 distributed. Captain Hutton writing in 1896 said: " I think that the 

 species has been unintentionally introduced into Auckland from 

 Sydney, and into Otago from Tasmania or Victoria, when large 

 quantities of hay were brought to Otago from Australia." 



Family LOCUSTID/E 

 Ccedicia olivacea, Brunner 



This Australian locust was found very commonly amongst sweet- 

 briars in Nelson in 1886, by Mr Hudson, and was also recorded 

 from Auckland by Captain Hutton in 1897. The latter authority 

 states that "probably it was introduced into Nelson in the early 

 days of the gold-diggings, and taken from there to Auckland." 

 Mr W. W. Smith tells me that it is common in Taranaki in 1919. 



Family GRYLLID^E 



Gryllus servillei, Saussure. Field Cricket or Whistling Cricket 

 Also recorded as Acheta fuliginosa. Mr Hudson thinks that the 

 introduction of this cricket from Australia occurred at a very early 

 period. He first recorded it from the Nelson district in 1875, when 

 it was extremely destructive. In 1896-97 the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment reported it as very destructive in Auckland and Hawke's Bay, 

 in the latter district eating the paddocks quite bare. It also entered 

 houses, destroying wall-papers, boots, clothing, harness, provisions, 

 etc.; and did much damage in orchards and gardens. In 1907 it was 



