Resting Behavior of the German Cockroach, Blattella germanica1

Berthold, Robert V.; Wilson, Billy Ray

doi:10.1093/aesa/60.2.347

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…Few studies deal with cockroach habitat preferences under natural conditions, although laboratory investigations document preferences for temperature ( (Berthold & Wilson, 1967;Mizuno & Tsuji, 1974) and substrate (Takagi, 1979;Crawford & Cloudsley-Thompson, 1971). …”

Section: Habitat Preferences a N D Microhabitat Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural Ecology of Cockroaches*

1984

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Summary 1. Cockroaches are ubiquitous in most habitats where insects occur. Although most reports on cockroaches are physiological in nature, sufficient information is available to indicate that forest, desert, and cave‐dwelling cockroaches select microhabitats on the basis of finely resolved environmental preferences. This is particularly true for oviparous females which select specific substrates for oviposition and embryogenesis. Selection and diel movements between microhabitats are related to diel changes in micrometeorological profiles and predation, feeding, and enhancement of sexual communication. 2. With some exceptions oviparous species live in wooded habitats; ovoviviparous species tend to occur in protected environments such as caves and logs. Oviparous species are exposed to greater predation, parasitism, and environmental pressures during embryogenesis than are ovoviviparous species, where internal incubation and some parental care reduce these risks. Most ovoviviparous species produce larger clutches, but the interval between broods is significantly longer than in oviparous species. Long gestation, clumping of food resources, and relatively little movement probably selected for male control of resources as a mate‐attraction tactic in ovoviviparous species; agonistic interactions, and in some cases morphological specializations for fighting, and highly ritualized behaviours are common. In most oviparous species, volatile pheromone communication and resource‐based aggregations are common. Rapid ovarian cycles and patchily distributed nutritional resources result in the need for greater mobility, and hence adults encounter greater risks.

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Section: Habitat Preferences a N D Microhabitat Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural Ecology of Cockroaches*

1984

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“…Smaller nymphs selected harborages with the smaller interstitial spaces than larger nymphs; pine straw had the smallest interstitial spaces of any of the mulches they tested (Appel and Smith 1996). Similarly, for the indoor German cockroach, smaller nymphs prefer narrower harborages than larger nymphs and adults , Berthold and Wilson 1967, Koehler et al 1994.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…All nymphal stages of the Asian cockroach generally preferred the rubber mulch to all other mulches (Table 1). This is likely due in part to the smaller interstitial spaces (see e.g., , Berthold and Wilson 1967, Koehler et al 1994) and high RH ( Table 5) that occur in rubber mulch particles. These interstitial spaces could allow the nymphs to hide and become inaccessible to possible predators as well as providing darker harborage areas (Table 5) for this negatively phototactic stage of the Asian cockroach.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mulch Preferences of the Asian Cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

Snoddy¹,

Appel²

2013

jnl. econ. entom.

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Mulch preferences of the Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, were determined in a series of laboratory experiments. Because this species is a peridomestic pest, mulch preferences may be a key part of an integrated pest management program for homeowners. Five mulches were used: cypress, oak leaf litter, pine straw, rubber, and topsoil. Large arena experiments showed that adult male Asian cockroaches preferred oak leaf litter and pine straw, while adult females preferred oak leaf litter and rubber mulches. Nymphal stages preferred rubber (48.3-62.5% for small and medium instars, respectively) to all other mulches. All stages of the Asian cockroach showed very little preference to topsoil (0%) and cypress mulch (6.3%). Ebeling choice box tests confirmed lack of preference or repellency of adult males to topsoil (17.8 +/- 3.6%) and rubber mulch (15.7 +/- 3.6%). Continuous exposure experiments indicated that pine straw was significantly more toxic to adult males than other mulches (66.7 +/- 18.4% mortality at 7 d). Mulch preferences of the Asian cockroach may be mediated by characteristics of the interstitial spaces in the different mulches. Rubber mulch afforded smaller, more humid spaces that were inaccessible to adults. Because cypress mulch was least preferred by nymphs and adults, use of cypress mulch in an integrated pest management program around homes may help to reduce Asian cockroach populations and limit insecticide exposure to humans, animals, and the environment.

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“…Research by Berthold and Wilson (1967) and Ishii and Kuwahara (1968) indicate that cockroaches are attracted to odors and hide in large groups. Odors were equivalent in all the hiding compartments at the beginning of the present experiment; however, after the first cockroach entered a compartment, the odors were no longer equivalent.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is estimated that cockroaches spend at least 75% of their time hiding (Cornwell, 1968), with peak activity levels occurring during the early hours of darkness (Harker, 1960;Lipton & Sutherland, 1970). Berthold and Wilson (1967) investigated the hiding space selection process by giving Blattella germanica a choice of hiding places that varied in width from 1.6 to 12.7 mm. It was found that 85% of the insects selected compartments 4.8 mm wide.…”

Section: Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%