Or d er O rthoptera. i
The Earwigs, the Cockroaches, the Crickets, and the Grasshoppers
together occupy rather a considerable place in the insect
world of St. Helena. The latter two inhabit chiefly the grassy
mountain tops of the high land and keep up their loud, shrill chirp
through the fine summer evenings, and far into the night. The earwigs
occupy much the same position as they do in England, frequenting
both fruit and flowers, but are also found under the loose stones
which lie about the outskirts of the Island, where, in the warmer
climate, they attain a large size. Cockroaches are a terror to all
housekeepers whose fate it is to live on the low lands, indeed anywhere
below an altitude of six or eight hundred feet above the sea,
where a warm climate exists, and more especially in Jamestown and
at Ladder Hill. Occasionally they make their way into the kitchens
of houses at a higher altitude, but not in large numbers. They are
the most objectionable creatures existing in the Island, and their
curiosity knows no bounds. They will crawl up a lighted candle to
see what is at the top, until burnt by the flame they beat a hagty
re tre a t; they tumble into wine bottles, jam pots, get up the side of
tumblers, and in their endeavours either to see or taste what they
contain, fall headlong in without a ' chance of escape; but their
most unpleasant amusement is a habit of crawling over you when in
bed and asleep at night, and peering down your throat if you happen
to have your mouth open \vide enough. I t is always prudent to
decant your wine in a cockroach country, as I once knew a gentleman
who thoroughly enjoyed his bottle of crusty old port until on one occasion,
with the last glass, out poured the porty carcase of an old grey
cockroach.
- Grasshoppers are very numerous on the high central ridge
adjacent to Diana’s Peak, n&arly 3000 feet above the sea, amongst
the cabbage-trees, ferns, and other native vegetation, where they seem
merry and happy enough all through the d ay ; those whose habitat
is amongst the grass and leaves, are in colour chiefly green, slightly
marked with black or brown; but those inhabiting the lower portions
of the Island, where little verdure exists, are entirely brown,
partaking much of the colour of the earth and stones of the locality.
The Crickets appear to be fully sensible of the safety afforded by
taking up their abode under large loose stones, for they exist in pairs
under almost every one of them.
Of this order Mr. Walker has examined twenty'four species, and
he has described one half of those as new.
Fam. Forflculidm.
Forficula, Linn.
F . f la v ip e s , Eabr.—The common Earwig, which is very large in
size, and abundant on the high land and under stones on the outskirts,
such as Thompson’s Wood, Dead Wood, and similar places,
also inhabits Africa.
Fam. PanchlorideE.
Panchlora, Burm.
P. maderse, Eabr. Ent. Syst, 11, 6. (Blatta).—A very large
grey Cockroach, which is found abundantly in houses in Jamestown,
Ladder Hill, and other warm low parts of the Island. I t has been
distributed over many parts of the world.
Proscratea, Burm.
p . i l le p id a , Walk. Cat. Blatt. 1 8 5 .—A large brown, flat Cockroach,
easily distinguished by its very offensive odour. I t also is
very plentiful in the houses of Jamestown and neighbouring parts, and
occurs under stones in the gardens attached to them. Mr. Walker
says :• “ I t has been found in St. Domingo and in the Canaries, and
it may have been transferred by shipping from one to the other of
these places.”
Fam. Corydidat.
Euthyrrapha, Burm.
* E . s a n c ts e h e le n e e , Walk.—An extremely pretty and unobjectionable,
little black and bright orange-coloured Cockroach, generally
found under stones in the gardens of Jamestown, Ladder Hill, and
New Ground. I t is also sometimes found in the houses, but is not
very common. Mr’. "Walker gives the following description of i t ,
“ Female black, oval, ferruginous beneath. Prothorax luteous along
each side. Abdomen luteous beneath. Eorewings with a round
luteous spot in the disk beyond the middle ; length of the body four
lines. I t has much resemblance to E. pacifica, of Barbadoes; it is