52 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



June ; * Agrion puclla, 19th July. I have 

 duplicates of those marked *, which I should 

 like to exchange for others not named in this 

 list. — G. C. Bignell, 7. Clarence Place, 

 Stonehouse, Plymouth. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL 

 EXAMINATIONS. 



Again " John Peel" has sent us the best 

 answer to our last question. Where are all 

 our young entomologists, and what are they 

 doing? We ought to have more competitors 

 than we have. 



REPLY. 



THE COCKROACH, 



( Blatta Orientalis.) 



Although often erroneously called the 

 "Black Beetle." This insect has in reality 

 no connection with the order Coleoptera. 

 but is included in the order Orthoptera, amongst 

 the Grasshoppers, Crickets, &c. The name 

 Orthoptera signifies Straight-wings and is 

 given to this order of insects on account of 

 their inability to fold the wings cross-wise 

 after the manner of the Beetles and Earwigs. 

 The Cockroach is not a native of our Island, 

 but it is not known from what country or at 

 what time it was imported. The voracity of 

 this insect is well-known, nothing seeming to 

 come amiss to it. The following is an ex- 

 tract from a history of the Cockroach, by a 

 naval surgeon ; "Whilst Cockroaches partake 

 largely of the common articles of diet in the 

 ship's stores, they also rather like books, 

 clothes, boots, soap, and corks. They are 

 partial to lucifer matches and consider the 

 edges of razors and amputating knives delicate 

 eating. As to drink, they exhibit the same 



mpartiality. Probably they do prefer wines 

 and spirits, but they can nevertheless drink 

 beer with a relish, and even suit themselves to 

 circumstances and imbibe water, either pure 

 water or mixed with soap ; and if they cannot 

 obtain wine, they will find a very good 

 substitute in ink." This account shows that 



the Cockroach is no less thirsty than hungry. 

 Warmth, moisture, and darkness are the 

 three essentials of Cockroach life, and it is on 

 this account that they are so abundant in the 

 lower part of the house, and but seldom in the 

 upper rooms. Like many other insects the 

 Cockroach has a habit of discharging from its 

 mouth a dark colored fluid, which possesses 

 a most disagreeable smell, and is one of the 

 chief causes of the universal repugnance to it. 

 The elytra or upper wings of the male are 

 soft, leathery, and strongly veined ; they are 

 not used for flight, but merely as a protection 

 to the delicate underwings ; the female is 

 apterous, i.e. wingless. The larva and pupa 

 resemble the perfect insect in shape, but have 

 no wings. When the insect first emerges from 

 the pupa it is almost white, the darker hue 

 being developed in a short time by the action 

 of light. The eggs of the Cockroach are laid 

 all together, enclosed in a hard, horny case, 

 for which the scientific name is " ootheca," 

 i.e. egg-purse, When the eggs are hatched 

 this case splits down one side, and allows the 

 occupants to escape. There is no doubt that 

 it is a most disagreeable insect, but it must be 

 admitted that it is also useful as a scavenger, 

 and as it is seldom seen in perfectly dry and 

 clean places, its very presence may generally 

 be considered as a sign that it is needed. 

 Many means have been tried for the exter- 

 mination of Cockroaches, but all have proved 

 more or less ineffectual. A hedgehog is an 

 useful ally in the kitchen, as he is very 

 partial to them as food, and pans of beer or 

 water left on the floor at night will attract 

 these thirsty insects, which tumbling in, in 

 their attempts to drink, will be drowned in 

 numbers. — John P^l. 



In order to vary the matt 2/ u mn:h as 

 possible, and so give all an opportunity of 

 sending in replies, we will now ask for the 

 best paper on the Entomological work done 

 by the writer in 18S j. The pipers must not 

 exceed six sheet j of note paper, and must be 

 in our hands by January 1st. 



