A comparison of the escape behaviors of the cockroaches Blaberus craniifer and Periplaneta americana.
A comparison of wind-mediated escape behavior of two species of cockroaches revealed striking differences. In contrast to Periplaneta americana, Blaberus craniifer was unable to escape from a live predator or move away from a synthetically generated puff of wind. Other behavioral differences included degree of preference for areas of low light intensity and propensity to dig and thus bury oneself when disturbed. Anatomical differences, although present, did not seem sufficient to account for the behavioral differences. Also, B. craniifer was able to escape from generated wind puffs but not a live predator when its temperature was raised. These points suggest that the behavioral differences in escape behavior can be attributed to differences in the physiological state of the two nervous systems.
D000818:Animals; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000502:physiology*; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000502:physiology*; D005724:Ganglia / Q000502:physiology*; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D010526:Periplaneta / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D014919:Wind