The Biotic Associations of CockroachesRoth, Louis M. (Louis Marcus)
Science
The Biotic Associations of Cockroaches
Roth, Louis M. (Louis Marcus)
Cockroaches; Insects -- Ecology
_India._--A nymphal female, found in a jungle stream at Chota Nagpur,
could swim with belly or back upward. When held under water it drowned
in a few minutes. The tip of the abdomen was held out of water
(Annandale, 1906).
Shelford (1907) has suggested that the immature stages of terrestrial
species of _Epilampra_ may well be amphibious. This is an area that
could profit by more field observations.
=Opisthoplatia maculata=
_Formosa._--Invariably found under or between rocks near mountain
streams. The wingless adult and the nymph have similar habits. Normally
the cockroach lives on land, and when it goes into the water it returns
to land within a few minutes. This cockroach rarely swims, but when it
does, it maintains its body in a horizontal position just below the
surface of the water. Ordinarily, it walks on the river bottom or on
water-covered rocks. This insect feeds on decayed leaves and, according
to Shikano, it will eat human feces. (Takahashi, 1926.)
This species has a large number of long hydrophobic hairs on the ventral
sides of the thorax and anterior abdominal segments. When the insect
submerges, air is trapped in these hairs. The thoracic and one pair of
abdominal spiracles open into the bubble of trapped air. However, the
insect apparently does not use this plastron of air to replenish its
tracheal air supply, but, like _Rhicnoda natatrix_ (see below), it
inspires air while at the surface through its posterior abdominal
spiracles and expires air into the bubble under the thorax. While the
insect is submerged, the air bubble increases in volume until part of it
breaks away and floats to the surface. (Takahashi, 1926.)
=Opisthoplatia orientalis=
_Formosa._--Lives on or in swampy ground (Takahashi, 1924).
=Rhicnoda natatrix=
_Sarawak._--Immature cockroaches were found in sodden leaves at the edge
of a pool, where they rested for hours at a time. Generally the fore
part of the body was in the water but the tip of the abdomen was always
in air. When disturbed the insects dived into the water and hid under
sticks and stones on the bottom. Air is inspired through the posterior
abdominal spiracles, when they projected above the water surface, and
expired through the thoracic spiracles. In experiments in which the
insects' abdomens were held immersed in water, with the thorax exposed,
the insects died in 6 to 12 hours or less. (Shelford, 1907.)
=Stictolampra buqueti concinula=
_Westsumba._--Found under moist fallen leaves on gravelly shore of
Melolo River. The nymphs distinguished themselves through their
amphibious mode of life and were often good swimmers (Princis, 1957a).
=Unidentified epilamprines=
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account