PLATE XXXVI.

BLATTA NIVEA.

Plate XXXVI. fig. 1.

The family Blattidæ, corresponding with the Linnæan genus Blatta, may be regarded as containing one of the most obnoxious assemblages of our insect enemies. Of this family, this and the two following figures represent different species. The observations upon the economy of this family, published by our author in the preface to this work, present the most complete account of the ravages and obnoxious qualities of this tribe which has hitherto been published. They are as follows:—

"The cock-roaches are another race of pestiferous beings, equally noisome and mischievous to natives or strangers, but particularly to collectors. These nasty and voracious insects fly out in the evenings, and commit monstrous depredations; they plunder and erode all kinds of victuals, drest and undrest, and damage all sorts of clothing, especially those which are touched with powder, pomatum, and similar substances; every thing made of leather, books, paper, and various other articles, which, if they do not destroy, at least they soil, as they frequently deposit a drop of their excrement where they settle, and some way or other, by that means damage what they cannot devour. They fly into the flame of candles, and sometimes into the dishes; are very fond of ink and of oil, into which they are apt to fall and perish. In this case they soon turn most offensively putrid, so that a man might as well sit over the cadaverous body of a large animal, as write with the ink in which they have died. They often fly into persons' faces or bosoms, and their legs being armed with sharp spines, the pricking excites a sudden horror not easily described. In old houses they swarm by myriads, making every part filthy beyond description wherever they harbour, which in the day time is in dark corners, behind all sorts of clothes, in trunks, boxes, and, in short, every place where they can lie concealed. In old timber and deal houses, when the family is retired at night to sleep, this insect, among other disagreeable properties, has the power of making a noise which very much resembles a pretty smart knocking with the knuckle upon the wainscotting. The Blatta Gigantea of Linnæus in the West Indies are therefore frequently known by the name of Drummers. Three or four of these noisy creatures will sometimes be impelled to answer one another, and cause such a drumming noise, that none but those who are very good sleepers can rest for them. What is most disagreeable, those who have not gauze curtains are sometimes attacked by them in their sleep. The sick and dying have their extremities attacked, and the ends of the toes and fingers of the dead are frequently stripped of both skin and flesh."

BLATTA (BLABERUS) GIGANTEA?

Plate XXXVI. fig. 2.

Fabricius, Serville, &c. have referred this figure to the Linnæan Blatta gigantea, with the description of which it indeed corresponds; although, as Drury observed, it is considerably smaller than that species. Drury states that this is one of the species which is very frequent in houses in the West Indies, and is called the Drummer, from the noise it makes by beating against the wainscot.

BLATTA (POLYPHAGA) ÆGYPTIACA?

Plate XXXVI. fig. 3.

I have added a mark of doubt to the specific denomination of this insect on account of the different habitats given by Drury and Linnæus, although it agrees with the description of Blatta Ægyptiaca given by the latter author.

PENTATOMA FLAVICOLLIS.

Plate XXXVI. fig. 4.

RAPHIGASTER INCARNATUS.

Plate XXXVI. fig. 5.

ARILUS SERRATUS.

Plate XXXVI. fig. 6.

This large and remarkable species of winged bug is commonly known in the West Indies under the name of the Wheel-bug, and is stated by Messrs. Kirby and Spence to possess the power of communicating an electric shock to the person whose flesh it touches. "The late Major-General Davies, of the Royal Artillery, once informed me, that when abroad, having taken up this animal and placed it upon his hand, it gave him a considerable shock, as if from an electric jar, with its legs, which he felt as high as his shoulders; and dropping the creature, he observed six marks upon his hand where the six feet had stood." (Intr. to Ent. 1. 110.)

There appear to be several species confounded under the specific name of serratus. The one figured by our author is well distinguished by the colour of its rostrum and tibiæ, which are fulvous or orange-coloured. (Fabricius calls them yellow "flavis," and Burmeister red "rufis.") I have received this species from Valparaiso. Another species having brown tibiæ, of a narrower form, rather smaller than the preceding, and having fewer teeth upon the scutellar crest, is very abundant in Pennsylvania. It may be distinguished by the following character:—

The sting of these insects produced by the short and powerful proboscis is accompanied with very considerable pain. Mr. Smeathman informed Mr. Drury that he had been stung by the largest wasps of Africa, as well as by these bugs, and thought the pain inflicted by the latter much more severe, though the effect does not remain so long. The pain is doubtless caused by that pungent volatile fluid which affects our smell so much when we catch those insects, with which they are abundantly supplied, and which they emit with considerable force.