Response of German Cockroaches to a Dispersant Emitted by Adult Females

摘要

The gregarious behavior of the German cockroach. Blattella germanica, is well-known. The stimulus is an aggregation phermomone that is secreted in the feces. However, it was discovered only recently that the effect of aggregation pheromone may be encountered by emission of a dispersant when the insects are crowded. A bioassay technique was used to compare the response of six age/sex classes of German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), to a dispersant emitted by adult females when crowded. Differences occurred among the classes in the rate, intensity, and apparently thresholds of their response. Adults, especially males, responded more strongly than nymphs. A greater repellency was associated with filter papers conditioned by non-oothecae than by oothecae bearing females, suggesting a higher emission by the former.