COCKROACHES AND HOUSE ANTS. 



91 



larger than any of tlie other domestic species, and it is li;,^lit brown in 

 coh)r, the wings being unusually long, i)owerful, and well developed 

 in both sexes. 



The Australian roach [Feriplaneta (nistralasicv) resembles very closel}' 

 the last sjjecies, but differs strikingly in the ])righter and more defi- 

 nitely limited yellow band on the prothorax and in the yellow dash on 

 the sides of the upper wings (see fig. 40). In the Ignited States it is 

 the most abundant and troublesome species in Florida and some of the 

 other Southern States. It is already practically cosmopolitan. 



Fig. 40. — Tho Australian roach {Periplaneta australasice): a, male witli spread 

 wiugs; h, female; r, pui)a — all lile-size (original). 



The oriental cockroach, or black beetle (FeripJaneta oricutaJis), is the 

 common European and particularly tlie English species, and is notable 

 for the fact that the female is nearly wingless in the adult state. The 

 wings of the male also are shortened, not reaching to the extremity of the 

 body. In color it is very dark brown, almost black, shining, and rather 

 robust, much stouter than the other species, making its English name 

 ol ''black beetle" quite appropriate. This species is notably gregarious 

 in habit, individuals living together in colonies in the most amicable 

 way, the small ones being allowed by the larger ones to sit on them, 

 run over them, and nestle beneath them without any resentment being 

 shown. This species was a common and troublesome pest in the British 



