The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
THE NASTY C0CKROACH.
FA CTS ABOUT THE ANTELOPE OF
THE INSECT World.
Methods Devised TO Destroy Him-The
Different Varieties and Their Habits
Observation-Disclosures Displayed.
From the Washington k'renino Star.

q nc NuhlNlutbN CIV iul
Reaches. writes G. J.. Marlatt In n bulletin
issued by tho Agricultural Department, are
among the commonest and most offensive of
the insects which frequent human habitations.
They were well known to the ancients, who called
them "lucifuEa," from their habit Of always
stunning the light. Tho common English name
for them, or, moro properly, for the common do
mestic English species. is "blnck beetle" In
America this name has not been adopted to
any extent for this insect, which was
early introduced here. and the term roach"
or "cockroach," Is the common nppella-
ton Of all tho domestic species. The
little German roach, however, is very gem
orally known as tho Croton bug. from it's early
association with tho Croton wnterworks system
in New York city. Tho popular designations Of
this insect in Germany Illustrate in nn amusing
way both sectional and racial prcjudices. In
north Germany these reaches are known as
"Schwaben,' n name which applies to tho in
habitants OF south Germany. and the latter
even up " by calling them "Preussen." after
the North Germans. In east Germany they are
called " Russcn," and in west German Fran
zosen," the two latter appellations indicating n
certain national antipathy to rival Countries as
we'll rs n fancifnl idea as to origin. Still other
names are "Spanier." dating from the time Of
Charles ". and /" Dane.' from m
lily. the Biattid,e. comparatively few Of which.
fortunately. have become domesticated. In
temperate countries some four or Ave species
are very common household pests. and a few oc-
cur wild In woods; hut they are essentially in
habitants of warm countries. aud in the tropics
the house species are very numerous. and the
wild species occur in great mum Der and variety.
many being striking in shape. color. and size.
ono species expanding more than six inches.
The Inability OF the domestic reaches to with
stanA unusual cold was illustrated by the fact
Florida, which was 80 destructive to tho citrus
groves. on the authorit, of Mr.. IL. a.. Hubbard,
destroyed all the reaches. even those in houses.
except u few unusually well protected. Under
suitable conditions In the more northern lati-
tude the domestic species often multiply prodig-
iously, and even In the fur north IL species &C.
ours in the huts of the Laplanuers, aud some
times entirely devours the stores OF dried fish
put away for winter
The roach Is one of the most primitive and
ancient insects. In the sense OF it's early appear
occurring in abundance in the early coal tor
nations ages before the more common forms Of
insect life OF the present day had begun to
number in comparison with the abundance of
forms in the carboniferous age. which might
with propriety ho called the age OF cockroaches.
the moisture and warmth of thnt distant period
being alike favorable TO plant growth and the
MULTIPLICATION of this family Of insects.
The house reaches OF to-daywere undoubtedly
very early associated with man in his primitive
have followed him wherever navigation has
extended. In fact. on shipboard they are always
especially, numerous and troublesome, the mois-
ture and heat of the vessel being particularly
favorable to their development,
Although among the oldest insects geologi-
caily. reaches have not departed notably rom
the early types, and form one OF the most per-
sistent groups among insects, The house
dark colored. a celebration which corresponds
with their habit of concealment during day
light. They are smooth and slippery Insects.
and in shape broad and fattened. The head is
inticxed under the body, 70 that the mouth
parts are directed backward and the eyes
directed downward. conforming with their
groveling habits. Tho nntennyr are very long
and slender. often having upward OF 100 joints.
The males usually have two pairs OF wings. the
outer ones somewha, coriaceous and the inner
ones more memhranons and once folded longi-
BLACK beetle; the FEMALES are nearly wingiess.
The LEGS are long and powerful, and armed with
strong hr, stiles OF spines The mouth Parts are
well developed, and with strong biting jaws.
enabling them 10 eat all sorts OF substances.
In houses reaches are particularly abundant
in pantries and kitchens. especially In the
neighbornood of freplaces, on account of the
heat. For the same reason they are often
abundant in the oven rooms OF bakeries or
wherever the TEN perature is maintained above
the normal. They conceal Themselves during
ever security and partial protection from the
light are afforded. Their very flat. thin bodies
enable thein to squeeze themselves INFO small
cracks or spaces where thr'r presence would
not he suspected and where thew are ont or
r"trt Of enemies. lnlsss routed out by the
moving OF furniture or disturbed In their hid
ing pln"es. they are rarely .eeu. and # so uncov-
cred make of with wonderful CELEBRITY, with
svurryInR, nervous gait, and usually are able to
elude all efforts al their capture or destruction.
1t may often happen that, their presence. at
least IN the ahundancr i'll which they occur. is
hardly realized BY the housekeeper. unless they
are surprised in their midnight feasts. Coming
into u Kitchen or pantry suddenly, n sound OF the
ruStllng or numerous objects Will come to the
ear. and If a light be introduced. often tie floor
o. shelves will be seen covered with scurrying
reaches Fastening to places OF rOncealment. In
districts where the large American roach occurs
they sunlrtimct swarm in this way at night in
such Numbers that upon entering a small room.
In which they are cGagrcgntrii one will be re-
%peatediy strUck and scratched on the lace and
hands hy the insects in their frantic flight to
i,ain rgurpHlmpIt.
Tn" LACK roach is less active and wary than
Tie others. and particularly the German roach.
which is especially agile and shy.
The domestic" reaches are practically omnivor-
ous. feeding on almost any dead animal matter.
They are also said to eat their own cast skins
AMI egg cases, and II Is supposed that they will
occasionally nnibalistir. They will also eat
or Rnaw woolcns, leather as OF shoe or furni-
lure. and frequently are the cause OF extensive
damage 20 tlit. cloth and, leather bindings Of
books in libraries and publishing houses. The
sizing or paste used IN the cloth covers ana III
the binding of hooks seems to be very attractive.
The surface Of the covers Of cloth-h0und hooks
Is often much scrspeh and dtstlgured, %rarticu-
H%idl.icnl, aud the gold lettering Is sometimes
eaten OF 10 get at the n!hulnen paste. On ship
count of the vast numbers of cock ruaches winch
frequently occur there. and we have reliable ac-
counts of entire supplies of ship biscuits having
been eaten up or ruined by reaches.
Ihe damage they do Is not ouiv IN the prod
ncts actually consumed, but in the soilinE and
ilhAisNpuH VI tNtTN lllD Win WllAn
they come in contact. They leave. wherever
they occur in any numbers, a fetid, rauseous
oder. well known MS the '.roachy" odur. " Inch
is persistent and can not be removed from
shelves anu dishes without washing with soap
and boiling water. Food supplies 80 tainted are
beyond redemption. This olor comes partly
from their rNcTuncnt, hut chiefly from u dark
colorcd hu!d eXudrd from the mouth OF the
insect, with which IL stains its runways and
also in part, doubtless. from the scent glands.
which occur on the bodies ~ both sexes between
certain segment OF the abdomen, and which
SecreIe an oily liquid possessing Il Very charac-
teristic and d!aaGrert5lc odOr.
II frequently happens that shelves on which!
dishes are placed become impoverished with TINS
roachY olOr. ana this Is impaired to and re-
tanned by dishes to such an "At"nt that every
thing served in them, particularly liquids, MS
coffee or Tea. VIII pe noticed to have II peculiar.
disgusting, iOrriGn tnste mt Oddr, the source Of
which may he n pI22Ie. and viii naturally Ga
supposed To come from the food rather thaa
from the dish.
The roaches ~" normally scayen gers in habit,
and may at times be OF acti!al service in this
direction by eating up and removing dead ami
NAL material.
One other redcominG trait haS been recorded
OF them. namely, that they VIII prey ulon that
other grieyous PEST OF houses which arV not sub.
iected To careful supervision. the bclhup 'Iupir