Cockroach Literature Review

Analyzing the escape behavior of cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

Key words: cockroach, Periplaneta americana, behavior, escape, response, stimulus, predator.
Literature review
When an attempt is made to catch a cockroach, it response with a speedy behavior to escape. Possession of this speedy escaping behavior of cockroach makes it difficult for the predators such as geckos and toads to prey upon cockroach. The natural predators of cockroach rely on their impressive speed of striking tongue to catch the prey. However, cockroach detect the attack being launched and swiftly turn away from the predator’s reach escaping the attack. The key question that is addressed here is how Periplaneta americana mostly succeeds at an attempt to avoided the rapid strike attack of the predators.

When the predator strikes its tongue at the direction of cockroach, the air is displaced and generate a puff of wind. This wind stimulus serves as a cue to which a cockroach will respond by rapidly changing the trajectory and fly or run away from the source of the stimulus (Levi and Camhi, 1996; Manning & Dawkin, 1998). This behavior is mediated by a paired appendage at the posterior side of the abdomen called cerci which is made up of tiny wind sensitive hair. The gentle air current produced by the predator is perceived by the cerci, thus, inducing an escape response in cockroach (Camhi & Nolen, 1981; Levi and Camhi, 1996; Manning & Dawkin, 1998; Sullivan,