The Biotic Associations of CockroachesRoth, Louis M. (Louis Marcus)
Science
The Biotic Associations of Cockroaches
Roth, Louis M. (Louis Marcus)
Cockroaches; Insects -- Ecology
Dwellings provide a variety of microhabitats that are acceptable to
cockroaches. It has been stated that old houses, or houses that have
many cracks and crevices, or have basement kitchens that are not kept
clean and in good repair are particularly liable to invasion by
cockroaches (Laing, 1946; British Museum [Nat. Hist.], 1951). Although
this statement is undoubtedly true, it has been our personal experience,
as well as the experience of others, that new, clean, and well-planned
houses and apartments are also easily and sometimes quickly invaded by
cockroaches. Mallis (1954) has cited the following places that are
frequently infested by cockroaches in homes. In the kitchen, cockroaches
are found in and around sinks, in cupboards above and below sinks, under
tables and chairs, in stoves, around breadboards, in utility cabinets,
in kitchen closets, under linoleum, behind, under, and inside
refrigerators and iceboxes. In living rooms cockroaches are found in
furniture, studio couches, sewing machines, closets, and bookshelves;
behind picture frames, pennants, calendars, and other wall ornaments. In
bathrooms cockroaches are found in and behind utility cabinets and
toilets; they may be found in wicker clothes hampers, in brooms and
mops, and in door hinges. Ordinarily, cockroaches are not found in
bedrooms unless they are abundant elsewhere in the dwelling. Additional
harborages are cited under specific cockroaches in the list below.
In markets DeLong (1948) found the German cockroach in bags of potatoes
and onions, in crates of citrus fruits, in pads and shredded papers in
banana boxes, and in cases of bottled beverages. The insects were
attracted by coffee and crawled into the folds of coffee bags. They were
found in cartons of canned goods; in bread and baked goods; in cartons
of packaged cookies, cakes, and crackers. Packaged cereals were
attractive, and cockroaches were sometimes found in packages of
cigarettes. The insects occurred in scales (by the hundreds) and in cash
registers. Rather heavy infestations were found under stainless-steel
cappings that covered wooden arms on the fish cleaning stand. The
insects were numerous in display cases where they were warm and
sheltered. They were also found behind mirrors above produce racks, in
electrical switch boxes and conduits, and in telephone boxes, as well as
generally in cracks and behind loose moldings or loose wall boards.
Enclosed boxlike tables were frequently heavily infested.
In restaurants cockroaches may be found in the following places:
Crevices in wood, plaster, concrete, and metal; in the bar; in the
kitchen and in the associated equipment; in cupboards, lavatories, and
garbage storage areas; and on the undersides of chairs and tables
(Mallis, 1954).
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