Cockroach

a night insect allied to crickets and grasshoppers. The body is flat and oval when seen from above. The insect runs rapidly instead of jumping. Some species are wingless. Our native cockroaches are out-of-doors insects, preferring to live in fields and forests. During the day they conceal themselves under sticks and stones. The pale brown Croton bug or cockroach that hides about water-pipes and infests pantries is an immigrant from Asia. It is thought to have reached Europe and America in ships' cargoes. It is fond of flour and meal. It dreads powdered borax. It may be banished easily by the free use of insect powder.