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Influence of a novel object in the home range of the cockroach, Blattella germanica
Author(s) -
Durier V.,
Rivault C.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
medical and veterinary entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2915
pISSN - 0269-283X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2915.2002.00348.x
Subject(s) - cockroach , attractiveness , dictyoptera , biology , object (grammar) , range (aeronautics) , zoology , ecology , artificial intelligence , computer science , psychology , engineering , psychoanalysis , aerospace engineering
We investigated whether exploratory behaviour of the cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae), was modified by the introduction of a novel object, such as a bait station, into their familiar home range. In particular, we measured the attractiveness of boxes, as novel objects, in relation to their complexity and to their contents. The presence of a novel object induced an increase of exploratory behaviour on and inside the object and its environs. Time spent around the object depended on the complexity of the object (closed box or with holes). The more complex the object, the longer cockroaches spent exploring it. When the object contained food, its attractiveness was greatly increased and it affected cockroaches from further away.