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The effects of aggregation on survival and growth rate in the wood-feeding cockroach Panesthia angustipennis spadica (Blaberidae).

The effects of aggregation on survival and growth rate in the wood-feeding cockroach Panesthia angustipennis spadica (Blaberidae).

Authors :
Hiroki ITO
Naoya OSAWA
Source :
Entomological Science. 5/30/2017, Vol. 20, p402-408. 7p.
Publication Year :
2017

Abstract

The wood-feeding cockroach Panesthia angustipennis spadica Shiraki (Blaberidae) is a gregarious species, and its groups containing both nymphs and adults have often been observed in the field. To clarify the effects of aggregation with a parent and siblings on nymphal development in P. angustipennis spadica, we raised nymphs of this species in the laboratory under the following three experimental categories: (a) aggregate with a female adult; (b) aggregate without a female adult; and (c) solitary. Survival rates did not significantly differ among the three categories. Unexpectedly, our results clearly showed that nymphs raised in aggregates with a female adult were smaller, lighter, and reached a lower instar than those raised without a female adult. These results indicate that the presence of a female adult does not positively affect nymphal development; i.e. there may be no direct parental care in this species as indicated by previous studies. Moreover, solitary nymphs grew faster and larger than nymphs in aggregates, showing that the aggregation with siblings also has no positive effect on nymphal development. Thus, it seems likely that external factors, e.g. predation and environmental conditions, may drive aggregating behavior in P. angustipennis spadica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
13438786
Volume :
20
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Entomological Science
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
125981075
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/ens.12269