BLATTA NIVEA. Alba, capite antennisque flavis thoracis dorso margineque
interno elytrorum flavescentibus. (Long. Corp. lin. 12.)
SYN. Blatta Nivea, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 1. 2. _De Geer Ins._ 3. _t._ 44.
_f._ 10. _Herbst. Arch. t._ 49. _f._ 8. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ 2. _p._ 8.
HABITAT: New York (_Drury_). "In America insulis" (_Fabr._).
Head and antennæ yellow. Thorax and abdomen pale green. Wings and
wing-cases of a transparent white; the latter having a yellow streak on
the anterior margin, which seems to extend along the margin of the
thorax. Legs, and the under side of the abdomen, pale yellowish green.
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 {71}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."