ORTHOPTERA. 287 
the colonies. The Kakerlac Americana is from one inch to one 
inch and a quarter long. It infests ships, running about at night 
over the sleeping passengers, and devouring the food. They are 
to be met with in all parts of the world. They abound par- 
ticularly inthe warm parts of America. The Blatta orientalis is 
more commonly met with than the above. It swarms in kitchens, 
in bakers’ shops, provision shops, &c., where it hides in the 
eracks of the walls, or against the hinges of the doors. It is a 
small hideous animal, of a re- 
pulsive smell, and of a reddish 
brown colour. It is a little 
larger than the Blatta Ameri- 
cand. In France it is called by 
various names, such as Cafard, 
Panetiére, Notrot, Béte noir, &c. 
If in the middle of the night you 
suddenly enter with a light into 
the down-stairs kitchens, you will 
often see these little beasts run- 
ning about on the table, and 
devouring the remains of the 
food, with astonishing rapidity. 
The largest species of the genus of which we are now treating 
is the Kakerlac insignis, which inhabits Cayenne and Brazil, and 
in length sometimes exceeds an inch and three-quarters, and in 
the extent of its wings four inches and a half. 
It is principally in hot countries that the cockroaches do the 
greatest damage. In the Antilles, of which they are the pest, it 
is affirmed that they can in one single night bore holes through 
trunks, through cases, and through bags, and destroy objects 
which were supposed to be in perfect safety. Sometimes the 
walls, the floors, the beds, the tables, everything, in short, is 
infested by them, and it is impossible to find a way of preserving 
the food from their repulsive touch. One can, however, partially 
succeed in destroying them by the aid of insect powders. They 
have, besides, natural enemies. Poultry and owls are very fond 
of them. A species of wasp, Chlorion compressum, lays up a stock 
of cockroaches, which it previously renders insensible, for its 

Fig. 301.—The Cockroach (Blatta orientalis). 
