The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-27
THE HOUSEKEEPER'S PEST
REACHES OF VARIOUS KINDS. THEIR
VIRTUES AND VICES.
Government Brochure on the Thrift
mud Intelligence OF n Hnted Insect
How to De Rid Of Them.
speclal 70 The indianapolis Journal.

Special 70 the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. July 26.-When a citizen
of north Germany wants TO express his
real convictions about any inhabitant who
may chance 10 come from south Germany
he says "schwaben." and in south Ger
many the people call the north Germans
''proussen." AL this shows just how much
contempt one portion OF the German en-
pire has for the other. The word sounds
strange. but the insect ii describes is IA
miliar TO US all The anicents used 70 speak
Of Iucifaga the English OF black beetles. and
I'm the United States we have cockroaches.
IN a pamphlet OF fifteen pages just printed
at government expense more things are
told about cockroaches than were ever
dreamed OF in the philosophy of any house
wife. Mr.. G. L. Marlatt is an entomologist,
know TO fame. and his essay of 1000 words
about the cockroach is a classic which Sec
rotary Wilson. of the Agricultural Depart
rnent will preserve for posterity- Circulars
showing the cockroach in action will be
distributed gratuitously TO all who may
apply, and the press has been appealed
10. to whet the public appetite for cock
roach literature.
According TO Mr.. Marlatt, who is sup
posed 10 know more about cockroaches than
any other person in the world, this insect
is wiser than a serpent and more indus
trious than a bee The roach is a creature
of moods. There are reaches who organize
armies which go forth to battle Even
the feeblest minded roach will fight shy
of a poisoned dish which would deceive
a king The roach despises the bed bug
and Stays him for unadulterated wanton-
ess But the roach is not an insect Of
hesitate to cali spade a spade, and after
enumerating the virtues of the roach de-
clares that its vices so outweigh them that
It must be regarded as a nuisance. Being
officially declared a nuisance Professor Mar
latt tells numerous ways in which the roach
can be destroyed. TOu can set traps Tor
the roach but the most effective method
of destruction Is to employ the burned gun
powder route. For the kind OF reaches
Professor Marlatt has been experimenting
upon, at the Department OF Agriculture,
gunpowder is sure death.
Reaches belong TO the blattidae family
and have been the constant companions or
10 protect him from the elements. Wher-
ever navigation has extended the roach has
followed. Before any other insect now
known to the world had put in its appear
ance the cockrOach lived for millions OF
years Fossil remains Of reaches are found
in abundance. solemnly asserts Mr.. Mar
latt. in the early coal formation The dis
quietng information Is then VOuchSa1ed
that 5000 species are found at the present
in different parts of the world.
Mr.. Marlatt asserts that the great ma
jOrity OF reaches live outdoors, in which
statement ne contradicts Mr.. j. G. o. Tep-
per. OF South Australia, who is quite an
authority on reaches, but is hardly In Mr..
Marlatt's class. Mr.. Topper points out that
reaches the fruit of trees, while Mr.
Marlatt has not only discovered this, but
cites cases where reaches have eaten the
toe nails and eye lashes of sleeping chill
dTen. This latter performance was pulled
of in Brazil, which has more kinds of saw
age-dispOsitioned reaches than South Caro-
lima III Brazil spiders are encouraged be-
cause they grow fat on reaches, but in
South Carolina reaches are encouraged be-
cause they Stay bed bugs.
In describing the habits OF the roach Mr..
Marlatt shows me literary style
Coming into kitchen or pantry sudden
~, says the man who knows more about
teaches than any other man in the world,
"A sound of rustling Of numerous objects
will come to the ear. If a light be intro
duced often the floor or shelves will be seen
covered with scurrying reaches fastening
To places of cOncealment- They conceal
themselves behind the baseboards. furni-
ture. or whatever security or partial pro-
lection from the light IS afforded" When
once routed the roach Is a good traveller
and Mr.. Marlatt gives US good description
OF his gait. They move with wonderful
celebrity, with scurrying, nervous gait and
are able to elude all efforts at their capture
or destruction"
H. describing its transformation Mr. Mar
latt follows the roach from egg to adult
employing some 1000 words TO make his
peTiments conducted by Mr.. Marlatt every
citizen Of the republic should be familiar
We are told that the health of the roach
largely depends on its feed. Under favor
able conditions the roach can be developed
10 abnormal size. Mr. Marlatt, discussing
this phase, says: Young Matching July IL
from an egg case received from Eagle Pass,
Tex, reached the adult stage between
March IA and June u Of the following year,
indieatlng period OF nearly twelve months
for complete development"
1t is interesting to note that Mr.. MarIatt
speaks In hndlier terms of the Oriental
cockrOach than OF our own American
beetle. the Periplaneta Americana The
Oriental roach is not only more sociable
than the American beetle, but the small
ones are allowed TO sit on the large ones,
run over them, and nestle beneath them
without any resentment being shown" The
individuals live together in colonies in the
disposition which is irresistible
Mr. Marlatt observes that reaches are
usually well endowed with the ability to
guard themselves against enemies, display
Ing great intelligence In keeping out of the
way OF irate housekeepers and avoiding
food and other substances which have been
dOctored with poisOns for their benefit
Still those who bent on destruction
need not despair. Reaches may be killed
by fumlgating with hydrOcyanic-acid gas
Incidentally all the children and the hired
girl may be wiped out as well. The gas is
very poisonous TO human beings" Mr. Mar
latt warns US, but by observing the proper
precautions, may De employed with safety.
Pyrethum powder or buhach will il per
sisted In. reduce the number Of reaches. but
II Is not recommended. In Germany s1ln-
powder Is a very effective method of roach
destruction. as IL drives them out of their
haunts about the fireplace. Cunning devices
In the way OF traps have been successfully
employed TN England. but the authorities
are pretty well agreed that by mixing one
part or plaster of paris and three parts of
Hour and placing the compound in a saucer
the latter 10 be put where the reaches
abound. a greater destruction will fouow
In given time than can be produced from
any traps ever devised by English cunning
II does not make any difference whether
the saucer Is Haviland or ordinary German
ware the connection referred 10 is equally
deadly The insects readily eat the mix
ture. saiys Mr. Marlatt. become thirsty
and drink. when the plaster sets and clogs
the intcstines."
LAPSE Of MEMORY