Journal of Insect Behavior (2011) 24, 175-185

Rodrigo Cooper, Nicholas Nudo, Jorge M. González, S. Bradleigh Vinson and Hong Liang (2011)
Side-dominance of Periplaneta americana persists through antenna amputation
Journal of Insect Behavior 24 (3), 175-185
Abstract: While brain lateralization is widely studied for vertebrates, only a few studies have been performed on insects. In the present research, we investigated the behavior of the common American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, to determine if such lateralization is evident through their decision making process. The roaches were allowed to run through a y-tube and make a decision on which direction to take. Vanilla and ethanol were randomly placed at the ends of the y-tube to entice the roaches to reach the end of the tubes. Tests were repeated by severing one antenna on each roach in different configurations which were expected to alter the decision of the insect. Through a simple statistical analysis we determined that the odors of vanilla and ethanol play an insignificant role in the decision making. We found that injury to the antenna indeed affected their decision, However, similar injury to either antenna showed an innate bias for turning right. Our research supports the hypothesis that Periplaneta americana is right-side dominated in their tactile and odor senses.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): S. Bradleigh Vinson

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Periplaneta americana