CHAPTER XX 



THE COCKROACH 



THE cockroach, or black-beetle, is now a very common insect. 

 It frequents bakehouses, kitchens, and other places, such as 

 warehouses and dockyards, where it can obtain both shelter 

 and abundance of food. Being, however, a nocturnal animal, it 

 is but seldom seen during the daytime, for then it is hidden in 

 crevices and narrow dark recesses, into which its flattened and 

 loosely jointed body enables it to retire without difficulty. 

 Specimens for study can be obtained by the aid of " beetle traps " 

 set in infested places, and baited with sugar moistened with a few 

 drops of beer, or with the rind of cucumber, of which they are 

 very fond. 



The general colour of the insect is a dark blackish brown, 

 well suited to concealment in 

 the diurnal retreats. The head 

 is rather hidden below the large 

 shield - shaped prothorax ; it 

 carries a pair of long antennae, 

 which during life are kept 

 constantly flickering over the 

 surface upon which the animal 

 is moving. At the side of the 

 head is a pair of large com- 

 pound eyes, and close to the 

 insertion of the antennae are two 

 minute white spots, probably 

 representatives of two of the 

 three simple eyes (ocelli) found 

 on the top of the head of many 

 insects. The mouth appendages occupy the ventral and posterior 

 portions of the head. They consist of a flat upper lip, or labrum, 



e s 



FIG. 63. Male cockroach. 

 <, eye ; c, prothorax ; t 

 e, cerci ; J, styles. 



a, antenna ; 

 front wing ; 



