or **COCKROCHE**, a genus of insects belonging to the order of hemiptera, or such as have four semicircular incumbent wings. The head of the blatta is inflected towards the breast; the antennae, or feelers, are hard like brittle; the elytra and wings are plain, and resemble parchment; the breast is smooth, roundish, and is terminated by an edge or margin; the feet are fitted for running; and there are two small horns above the tail. This insect resembles the beetle; and there are 10 species; viz. 1. The gigantea is of a livid colour, and has square brownish marks on the breast. It is found in Asia and America, and is about the size of a hen's egg. 2. The alba is red, and the margin of the breast is white. It is found in Egypt. 3. The surinamensis is livid, and the breast edged with white. It is a native of Surinam. 4. The americana is of an iron colour, and the hind part of the breast is white. The wings and elytra are longer than its body. It is found in America and the South of France. 5. The pivea is white, with yellow feelers. It is a native of America. 6. The americana is ash-coloured, and has some hairs on its breast. It is found in Africa. 7. The orientalis is of a dusky ash colour, has short elytra, with an oblong furrow in them. This species is frequent in America. They get into chests, &c. and do much hurt to cloaths; they infect people's beds in the night, bite like bugs, and leave a very unsavoury smell behind them. They avoid the light, and seldom appear but in the night time. The female resembles a kind of caterpillar, as it has no wings: She lays an egg of about one half the bulk of her belly. They eat bread, raw or dressed meat, linen, books, silk-worms and their bags, &c. Sir Hans Sloane says, that the Indians mix their ashes with sugar, and apply them to ulcers in order to promote the suppuration. 8. The germanica, is livid, and yellowish, with two black parallel lines on the breast. It is found in Denmark. 9. The lapponica, is yellow, and the elytra are spotted with black. It is found in Lapland, and feeds upon cheese, fishes, &c. 10. The oblongata, is of an oblong figure; the colour is livid and shining; and it has two black spots on the breast. The feelers are red and clavated; and the feet are very hairy. It is a native of America.