[German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) in a refrigerator].
German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) regularly occurred in a refrigerator of a hospital in Leipzig. Larvae of instars 1--6 of a population of high density but uneven spatial distribution infiltrated through the defective magnetic tape packing of the refrigerator door into an area maintaining +7...12 degrees C. In this way they utilised their temperature dependent ability to move almost down to the lower limit and gave a new example of the plasticity of their reactions. Behavioural and ecological aspects of the observations as well as hygienic consequences and prophylactic measures are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000502:physiology*; D004463:Ecology; D005859:Germany, East; D006773:Hospitals, Municipal; D012034:Refrigeration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013696:Temperature
Hausschaben (Blattella germanica) im Kühlschrank.