250 ORTHOPTERA OF NOVA SCOTIA. — PIERS. 



2. Blatta orientalis Linnseus. Oriental Cockroach; 



Black Beetle; "Common Cockroach". 



Stylopyga orientalis. Piers, Trans. N. S. Inst. Sc, ix, 



210 (1896); Halifax. 



Description. — Size rather large, male shorter and narrower than female; 

 distance between eyes less than length of last joint of 'maxillary palpus; 

 wing-covers of neither sex reaching end of abdomen, but fairly well developed 

 and covering about three-quarters of abdomen in male, and rudimentary 

 and covering about one-third in female. 



Colour. — Dark, mahogany-brown; legs and underside of body some- 

 what Ughter; pronotum without hght margin or other markings. 



Measure7nents. — Male: body, 22 mm.; length of pronotum, 5.5 mm.; 

 width of pronotum, 7.5 mm. ; wing-covers, 13-14 mm. Female: body, 27 mm. ; 

 length of pronotum, 6.5 mm.; width pronotmn, 8.5 mm.; wing-covers, 5 mm. 



Range. — ^A native of Asia, carried by shipping from one country to 

 another imtil it has become cosmopolitan. Found over the most of America, 

 especially in city dwellings by the seaboard. 



Occurrence in Nova Scotia. — This large noxious cockroach 

 was doubtless introduced into Nova Scotian ports by shipping 

 at a very early period in our history, although not actually 

 recorded scientifically until recent years. Without doubt 

 it is the cockroach mentioned by Walter Bromley in his 

 "General Description of Nova Scotia", 1825, page 33. It 

 is common in some houses in the older parts of Halifax, and 

 doubtless also in other large shipping towns along our coast, 

 but in the country districts it seems to be verj'- rarely met 

 with. C. B. Gooderham has not so far found it at Truro, 

 Col. Co.-, or along the Bay of Fundy, although he has heard 

 of its occurrence. When once it gains a foothold in a dwelling 

 it is liable to become one of the most disgusting and trouble- 

 some of household pests, and one rather difficult to get rid 

 of in spite of persistent efforts to exterminate the pest. 

 It is nocturnal in habit and devours almost anything. Unlike 

 the German Cockroach or Croton Bug, it delights in damp- 

 ness, dirt and darkness, its favourite habitat being the holds 

 of vessels, cellars and basements. Despite its abundance, 

 it develops slowly, as from three to five months are required 

 to arrive at maturity. 



