Cockroaches: Ecology, Behavior, and Natural History. William J. Bell, Louis M. Roth, and Christine A. Nalepa.

Extract

Mention cockroaches and there is a near universal negative reaction, usually associated with unhygienic conditions, disease, and general disgust. This is understandable because most people (including many biologists who do not study cockroaches) are generally familiar with just a handful of “pest” cockroach species that have become associated with human habitation. Few people realize the extent of cockroach diversity in life history, habitat, behavior, and morphology. Few books exist on the ecology, life history, and biology of cockroaches other than those that are closely associated with humans. This book attempts to summarize the large amount of information that has accumulated in disparate scientific journals on a wide variety of cockroach species. The emphasis of the book in general is on the less familiar species, many of which live in forests, and therefore, are rarely encountered by humans.

The book consists of 10 chapters and begins with a general description of cockroach morphology. Although cockroaches vary widely in their physical appearance, they share a number of morphological features in common. A number of fascinating features have evolved over the millennia: horn-like protrusions on the pronotum, exquisite mimicry of a variety of beetle species, bright coloration, and sexual dimorphism. The second chapter deals with locomotion. Cockroaches, especially the peridomestic species, are best known for their fast running. However, there is a great deal of variability in cockroach locomotion including swimming and flying. Although many cockroach species are wingless, some species are strong fliers and sexual dimorphism in presence/absence of wings is not uncommon. This chapter includes detailed information on the ecological correlates of wing condition, life history trade-offs, population structure, correlation between wings and habitat, as well as other evolutionary aspects.