Environmental Entomology (1996) 25, 817-824

A.G. Appel and L.M. Smith II (1996)
Harborage preferences of American and smokybrown cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattidae) for common landscape materials
Environmental Entomology 25 (4), 817-824
Abstract: Harborage preferences of American, Periplaneta americana (L.), and smoky-brown, P. fuliginisa (Serville), cockroaches were determined in laboratory experiments. None of the potential harborages [juniper branches, Juniperus horizontalis L.; pine, Pinus taeda L.; straw; soil; rocks; or grass, Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack, thatch] were toxic in continuous exposure tests. None of the harborages were repellent to American cockroaches, but in Ebeling choice box tests smokybrown cockroaches were significantly and consistently repelled by dry soil (mean ± SEM, 6.17 ± 0.68%). Tested with mixed-stage groups, juniper branches were preferred to all other potential harborages by all American cockroach stages. Smokybrown cockroaches also preferred juniper branches, but significant proportions were also found harboring under pine straw and rocks. Tested with single stages, small and medium American and smokybrown cockroach nymphs preferred pine straw rather than juniper indicating an interaction between cockroach stages and harborage selection by small and medium nymphs. Even though relative humidity was significantly greater (45.4 ± 2.2%) under juniper, light intensity was lower (7.9 ± 3.9 lux) under pine straw. Smaller nymphs selected harborages with smaller interstitial spaces than larger nymphs; pine straw had the smallest interstices of any of the tested harborage materials. Harborage selection by American and smokybrown cockroaches is mediated by the physical characteristics of the harborage and the presence of conspecifics.
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Database assignments for author(s): Arthur G. Appel

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Periplaneta americana		U.S.A. (SE)
	Periplaneta fuliginosa		U.S.A. (SE)