344 OBSERVATIONS ON 



They seem to be most inclined to breed in beecli ; hence 

 beech will not make lasting utensils, or furniture. If their 

 eggs are deposited on the surface, frequent rubbings will 

 preserve wooden furniture. 1 



BLATTA ORIENTALIS COCKROACH. 



A NEIGHBOUR complained to me that her house was overrun 

 with a kind of black beetle, or, as she expressed herself, with 

 a kind of black bob, which swarmed in her kitchen when 

 they get up in a morning before daybreak. 



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 prevail in 

 the more northern parts of Europe, as Russia, Sweden, &c. 

 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 altogether 

 night insects (lucifugce), never coming forth till the rooms 

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

 of a candle. Their antennce are remarkably long, slender, 

 and flexile. 



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

 Htchen hearth swarms with young crickets, and young 



1 The -Ptinus peclinicornis is not the only insect that is destructive 

 to furniture. Various species of Anobium also perforate it in all 

 directions. Linnaeus's chairs were bored through and destroyed by 

 A. pertinax; and the Rev. Mr. Kirby had his chairs, his picture- 

 frames, and the floor of his chamber eatea in every direction by A. 

 utriatum. ED. 



