338 OBSER VA TIONS ON INSECTS. 



Soon after this account I observed an unusual insect in 

 one of my dark chimney closets, and find since, that in the 

 night they swarm also in my kitchen. On examination I 

 soon ascertained the species to be the blatta orientalis of 

 Linnaeus, and the blatta molendinaria of Mouffet. The 

 male is winged ; the female is not, but shows somewhat like 

 the rudiments of wings, as if in the pupa state. 



These insects belonged originally to the warmer parts of 

 America, and were conveyed from thence by shipping to 

 the East Indies ; and by means of commerce begin to pre- 

 vail in the more northern parts of Europe, as Russia, 

 Sweden, etc. How long they have abounded in England I 

 cannot say, but have never observed them in my house till 

 lately. 



They love warmth, and haunt chimney closets and the 

 backs of ovens. Poda says that these and house crickets 

 will not associate together ; but he is mistaken in that 

 assertion, as Linnaeus suspected he was. They are alto- 

 gether night insects, lucifugce, never coming forth till the 

 rooms are dark and still, and escaping away nimbly at the 

 approach of a candle. Their antennae are remarkably long, 

 slender, and flexile. 



October 1790. After the servants are gone to bed, the 

 kitchen hearth swarms with young crickets, and young 

 blattce molendinarice of all sizes, from the most minute 

 growth to their full proportions. They seem to live in a 

 friendly manner together, and not to prey the one on the 

 other. 



August 1792. After the destruction of many thousands 

 of blattce molendinarice, we find that at intervals a fresh 

 detachment of old ones arrives, and particularly during this 

 hot season \ for the windows being left opon in the even- 

 ings, the males come flying in at the casements from the 



