Responses of the german cockroach, Blatella germanica L., to commercial bait formulation

Issue Date

10-2009

Abstract

The attractiveness of a commercial bait formulation to German cockroach, Blatella germanica L., was measured by comparing behavioral responses of individuals to the bait formulation and to the regular source food. Three starved males and three starved non-gravid females were placed in a glass chamber containing either control of regular diet only, bait formulation only (no-choice assay) or both (with choice assay). The insects were observed for two hours, from 19:00 to 21:00 hours. The following indices: (1) time it takes to approach the bait/food (latency); (2) duration of feeding of the cockroach on the bait/food; (3) time it takes for another visit to the bait/food (interval); and (4) number of times the cockroach approached the bait/food (frequency), were used to quantify the behavioral response of the cockroaches. In no-choice assays, no significant differences were found between the mean latencies of approach and interval between visits of male and female cockroaches to the regular diet and the baited diet. On the other hand, there were significant differences (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) in the meal durations of male and female cockroaches in the regular and baited diets. They stayed in the baited diet longer than in the regular diet. Males visited the regular diet more frequently than the baited diet (p=0.004). Females on the other hand, had comparable numbers of visits to the regular and baited diets. In with-choice assays, it took longer periods of time for both male and female cockroaches to visit the bait formulation than the regular diet (p=0.006 and p0.034). while males had almost the same meal durations in both regular diet and bait formulation. The mean intervals of visits of male and female cockroaches to the food source were not significantly different. Both males and females visited the regular diet more frequently than the baited diet (p=0.009 and p=0.003, respectively). Differences in attraction or behavior of male and female cockroaches towards the bait formulation were also compared and no significant difference were noted. This means the efficacy of the bait formulation was not affected by the sex of the cockroaches. In the choice test, cockroaches still preferred the regular food over the baited diet because the tended to approach it first and more frequently. However, they tended to stay longer in the baited diet once it was approached. Mortality data suggest that the specific baited diet studied has generally the same effect on male and female cockroaches.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

23

Issue

2

Page

188-189

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

BLATTARIA; INSECTA; PESTS; PEST CONTROL BAITS; BAITS; PEST CONTROL; PESTICIDES FORMULATION

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS