September, 1889]. 



865 



^cL u v 



SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH ORTHOPTERA. 



BY ELAND SHAW, F.E.S. 



{Continued from p. 359). 



II.— BLATTID^E. 



ecu. 



Fig 1 



Ffg 2. 



Fig. 1. — Right elytron and wing of Ectobla lapponica. L . 6* ■ m, mediastinal vein ; r, radial vein 

 u, ulnar vein ; sp, spurious vein ; d, dividing vein ; a ar, apical area. 



Fig. 2. — Right elytron of Periplaneta americann, L, <J . m, mediastinal vein: r, radial vein; 

 a u, anterior ulnar vein ; p u, posterior ulnar vein ; d, dividing vein. 



The cockroaches found in Britain may be divided into two groups, 



1, the indigenous species, i. e., the three species of the genus Ectobia ; 



2, the introduced species. The latter are established in the country 

 according to their date of introduction ; the earliest being Periplaneta 

 orientalis, the house cockroach or so-called " blackbeetle." We find 

 the first record of its occurrence in Mouffet's " Theatrum," 1634, p. 

 139, where it is mentioned as common in wine cellars in London ; and 

 now it is not only generally distributed in houses, but is also found 

 out of doors. Pliyllodromia germanica has also spread westwards, and 

 is plentiful in many houses, especially in London refreshment bars 

 and bakehouses. It is said to have been brought here by the soldiers 

 returning from the Crimean War (1857). Periplaneta americana, the 

 " ship cockroach," is fast establishing itself, and P. australasice has 

 also arrived, and though we have only one record of its occurrence in 

 this country, it is found commonly in many maritime towns on the 

 continent. The cockroach, from the nature of its food, can easily 

 adapt itself to its surroundings, provided there is enough warmth, and 

 this may account for its success in the " struggle for existence," and 

 its wide distribution both in space and time. The earliest known of 

 all fossil land animals is a cockroach, Paleoblattina Douvillei, Brong- 

 niart (Comptes Eendus Acad, des Sciences, Paris, No. 29, Dec. 26th, 

 1884). 



In studying the British Blattidce, the following details of structure 



H H 



