Ecology, Behavior, and Distribution of Blattella Asahinai (Orthoptera: Blattellidae) in Central Florida
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Entomology Papers from Other Sources Entomology Collections, Miscellaneous 1988 Ecology, Behavior, and Distribution of Blattella asahinai (Orthoptera: Blattellidae) in Central Florida Richard J. Brenner USDA-ARS, Insects Affecting Man and Animals Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 14565, Gainesville, Fla. 32604 R. S. Patterson USDA-ARS, Insects Affecting Man and Animals Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 14565, Gainesville, Fla. 32604 P. G. Koehler Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla. 32611 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologyother Part of the Entomology Commons Brenner, Richard J.; Patterson, R. S.; and Koehler, P. G., "Ecology, Behavior, and Distribution of Blattella asahinai (Orthoptera: Blattellidae) in Central Florida" (1988). Entomology Papers from Other Sources. 84. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologyother/84 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Entomology Collections, Miscellaneous at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Entomology Papers from Other Sources by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Ecology., Behavior., and Distribution of Blattella asahinai (Orthoptera: Blattellidae) in Central Florida 1 RICHARD J. BRENNER,2 R. S. PATTERSON,2 AND P. G. KOEHLER3 Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 81(3): 432-436 (1988) ABSTRACT The Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, a close relative of the German cockroach, B. germanica (L.), has been discovered in over 900 km2 from Tampa to Lakeland, Fla., and is prevalent in citrus groves, wooded areas, lawns, and homes. Dif ferentiation of the two species is best accomplished by the diagnostic behavior of the Asian cockroach-it is crepuscular (sunset) and nocturnal, readily flies, is attracted at sunset to light-colored or brightly lit surfaces, and lives outdoors in large numbers. Analyses of mi crohabitat composition of 86 trap sites indicate that the principal habitat of the Asian cockroach is leaf litter in shaded areas. Here, the densities of nymphs and females bearing oothecae were highest. All other adults were more diffusely distributed. Asian cockroaches may be difficult to control because of the mobility of the species and the common occurrence of feral reservoirs. KEY WORDS Insecta, Asian cockroach, spatial distribution, habitat IN FEBRCARY 1986, specimens of a cockroach mor We collected both B. asahinai and B. germanica phologically similar to the German cockroach, inside the home in Kathleen (identifications by L. Blattella germanica (L.), were collected at a house Roth). This finding, and reports from other home in Kathleen, Fla. (9 km northwest of Lakeland). owners, confirmed that B. asahinai presents sig Although they appeared to be, and could be keyed nificant problems. Therefore, we initiated studies to, German cockroaches, their behavior was incon on its biology and behavior to determine its mi sistent with that of German cockroaches; the latter crohabitat distribution (preferred habitats) on the are capable only of gliding flight and occur outside infested property, so that similar microhabitats at only occasionally and never in large numbers other locations could be surveyed. Here, we report (Cornwell 1968). The cockroach in Kathleen was observations and data on the behavior and distri very abundant in the lawn and readily flew when bution of this species. disturbed. In mid-June, the specimens were iden tified as Blattella asahinai Mizukubo by Louis Roth, Materials and Methods Harvard University, and Takayuki Mizukubo of Japan, who first described the species (Mizukubo Activity of Asian cockroaches was observed out 1981). This was the first report of this species, which side the home in Kathleen on numerous occasions we call the Asian cockroach, in the Western Hemi during March, April, and May. Temperature, hu sphere (Fig. 1). midity, and light intensity levels were recorded Blattella asahinai is synonymous with B. bey periodically during 24-h observation periods. Con bienkoi Roth (Roth 1986), and in the phylogeny of current with observations in mid-April, the micro the 45 recognized species in the genus worldwide, habitat distribution was studied by sampling the B. germanica and B. asahinai are most closely population at 86 ground level sites (Fig. 2). Sites related (Roth 1985). Preserved specimens of this were selected to sample all microenvironments de species are extremely difficult to separate morpho fined by the relative densities of grass (G) and leaf logically from German cockroaches; the shape of litter (L), and the degree of shading or openness the medial longitudinal groove on the eighth ab of canopy (S). The area immediately surrounding dominal tergite and the tergal gland in males are each trap (30 cm radius) was categorized subjec the only diagnostic characters, and they are diffi tively into one of three levels for each of the three cult to discern. Therefore, it is likely that diagnostic parameters, low (1), medium (2), or heavy (3). Thus, behavioral traits will be the most reliable for the a particular trap site could receive a score such as layman or professional pest control operator in dis G IS3L3. In general, values of 1 reflected an ab tinguishing between these species. sence of that parameter. One section of the prop erty (northeast corner) contained discarded cloth ing, furniture, and herbaceous materials (pulled I This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or a rec weeds, leaves, and grass clippings). Although tech ommendation for its use by USDA. nically ground cover, it was classified as leaf litter. 2 USDA-ARS, Insects Affecting Man and Animals Research Traps (artificial harborages) were made from Laboratory, P.O. Box 14565, Gainesville, Fla. 32604. 3 Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of two plywood squares (15 by 15 by 0.63 cm), sep Florida, Gainesville, Fla. 32611. arated on three sides by strips of balsa wood (5 mm May 1988 BRENNER ET AL.: BEHAVIOR OF Blattella asahinai 433 . 5 m II . ·D ~N • . - - . · ·0·9 . -· . .. b: - - . .. - . - • j - . - · q 0'· -0 . · , · - .. .._L.- . ·0. · Fig. 2. Schematic representation of the house and structures on the property where Asian cockroaches were first reported in Kathleen, Fla. Small dark squares in dicate locations of 85 ground traps used to determine microhabitat distribution. Trees are shown as circles. GLM procedures; relative densities were consid ered as continuous variables for the analyses. Spatial distributions of cockroaches also were es timated through the property using commercially available software programs (Golden Software Inc., Golden, Colo.) called GRID and TOPO. Briefly, Fig. i. A femaie Asian cockroach, BLattelia asahinai, perched on the siding of a home. GRID estimates population densities throughout the property based on the location of traps and the number captured at each specific location. We by 5 mm by 15 cm). The fourth side provided an wanted estimates at I-m intervals, which required entrance for the cockroaches. Because central Flor a 70- by 70-m grid. Thus, population densities were ida was then undergoing a drought, the inside sur estimated at 4,900 points of intersection. For each faces of traps were wetted thoroughly to maintain estimate, all traps within an arbitrarily selected high RH; a small quantity of dry distiller's grain distance of 25 m were used to estimate the popu (Brenner & Patterson in press) was sprinkled inside lation at that point using the Kriging algorithm, each trap as an attractant. The entrances of all traps which assumes a trend (large-scale variation) and faced west so cockroaches would not be disturbed a fluctuation (small-scale random process) (Ripley by the rising sun. The following morning, each trap 1981). The program TOPO utilizes this "gridded" was placed quickly inside a polypropylene bag data to construct contour lines of equal population where cockroaches were anesthetized with gaseous densities. These programs also were used to plot CO2 and counted. the distribution of grasses, shade, and leaf litter, Numbers of cockroaches per trap were tested for allowing a visual comparison with contour maps normality according to SAS univariate procedures of cockroach distribution. (SAS Institute 1985a) and found to be skewed sig Voucher specimens of Blattella asahinai have nificantly (coeff. of skewness = 1.22, P < 0.01). been deposited at the U.S. National Museum of Therefore, data were transformed to ranks (Con Natural History, Washington, and a request has over & Iman 1981), and analyzed according to SAS been made to list "Asian cockroach" in the list of GLM procedures (SAS Institute 1985b). Ranked approved common names of insects of the Ento data were analyzed to determine whether relative mological Society of America. densities of grass, shade, or leaf litter (interactions not considered) were predictive for the distribution Results and Discussion of Asian cockroaches. Means, in original scale, are reported in tables by microhabitat score, but sep Because Asian cockroach behavior was remark aration of means was conducted on ranked data ably similar throughout the 3-mo observation pe- . using the Waller-Duncan test option (SAS Institute riod, a typical behavior pattern of a 24-h period 1985b). Interactions were then examined