scholarly journals Neuronal connections and the function of the corpora pedunculata in the brain of the American cockroach,Periplaneta americana (L.)

1974 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitchell J. Weiss
2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 32-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth C. Catania

The emerald jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa) is renowned for its ability to zombify the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) with a sting to the brain. When the venom takes effect, the cockroach becomes passive and can be led by its antenna into a hole, where the wasp deposits an egg and then seals the exit with debris. The cockroach has the ability to walk, run, or fly if properly stimulated, but it does not try to escape as it is slowly eaten alive by the developing wasp larva. Although the composition and effects of the wasp’s venom have been investigated, no studies have detailed how cockroaches might prevent this grim fate. Here it is shown that many cockroaches deter wasps with a vigorous defense. Successful cockroaches elevated their bodies, bringing their neck out of reach, and kicked at the wasp with their spiny hind legs, often striking the wasp’s head multiple times. Failing this, the elevated, “on-guard” position allowed cockroaches to detect and evade the wasp’s lunging attack. If grasped, the cockroaches parried the stinger with their legs, used a “stiff-arm” defense to hold back the stinger, and could stab at, and dislodge, the wasp with tibial spines. Lastly, cockroaches bit at the abdomen of wasps delivering the brain sting. An aggressive defense from the outset was most successful. Thus, for a cockroach not to become a zombie, the best strategy is: be vigilant, protect your throat, and strike repeatedly at the head of the attacker.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e0160531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Hamanaka ◽  
Run Minoura ◽  
Hiroshi Nishino ◽  
Toru Miura ◽  
Makoto Mizunami

1964 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Y. Shao ◽  
S. E. Dixon

Some hydrolyzing enzymes have been investigated by histochemical and biochemical methods. Almost all neurons in the brain contain acid phosphatases. About half of the total activity is associated with subcellular particles. Most of the acid-phosphatase activity in the corpora cardiaca (CC) is associated with the neurosecretory materials (NSM). Elementary neurosecretory granules (ENG) have been isolated from the CC by fractionation and subfractionation procedures and subjected to in vitro enzyme activity studies. Electron micrographs of the subfraction having the highest acid-phosphatase activity are discussed in relation to three types or "stages" of ENG. About 80% of the total esterase activity in the brain and the retrocerebral system has been found to be in a "soluble" form. The remaining 20%, the "insoluble" forms, may be associated with subcellular organelles. The methods of Gomori and Burstone for acid-phosphatase localizations are compared, and differing results discussed. The possible roles or functions of acid phosphatases and esterases in the neurosecretory system are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Klymko ◽  
Paul Catling ◽  
Jeffrey B. Ogden ◽  
Robert W. Harding ◽  
Donald F. McAlpine ◽  
...  

We provide an updated checklist of Orthoptera and their allies for each Maritime province of Canada with details for 21 new species records. Drumming Katydid (Meconema thalassinum), recorded from Nova Scotia (NS) and Prince Edward Island (PEI), and Sprinkled Grasshopper (Chloealtis conspersa), recorded from New Brunswick (NB) are reported for the first time from the Maritimes as a whole. We report range extensions in the Maritime region for Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae; NB), Treetop Bush Katydid (Scudderia fasciata; NS), Short-legged Camel Cricket (Ceuthophilus brevipes; PEI), Spotted Camel Cricket (Ceuthophilus maculatus; PEI), Roesel’s Shield-backed Katydid (Roeseliana roesellii; NS), and Black-horned Tree Cricket (Oecanthus nigricornis; PEI). Short-winged Mole Cricket (Neoscapteriscus abbreviatus; NB) and European Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa; NS) are reported as adventives (non-native species that are believed to be not yet established), new to Canada from the Maritimes. Other new records for species not known to be established are Lined Earwig (Doru taeniatum; NS), Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae; PEI), American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana; NB), Brown Cockroach (Periplaneta brunnea; PEI), Smooth Cockroach (Nyctibora laevigata; NB), West Indian Leaf Cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis; NB), an unidentified Parcoblatta species (NB), Brown-banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa; PEI), Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa; NB), and American Bird Grasshopper (Schistocerca americana; NS).


1964 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 418-421
Author(s):  
Hugh E. Vroman ◽  
J.N. Kaplanis ◽  
W.E. Robbins

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Sicong Chen ◽  
Xunfan Wei ◽  
Zhuoxiao Sui ◽  
Mengyuan Guo ◽  
Jin Geng ◽  
...  

Among different insects, the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) has been bred in industrial scale successfully as a potential resource of protein, lipid, and antibacterial peptide. However, the application of its chitosan has not been studied widely, which has hindered the sufficient utilization of P. americana. In this paper, the chitosan from P. americana was separated, characterized, and processed into film (PaCSF) to examine its potential of being applied in food packaging. As the results of different characterizations showed, PaCSF was similar to shrimp chitosan film (SCSF). However, concerning the performances relating to food packaging, the two chitosan films were different. PaCSF contained more water (42.82%) than SCSF did, resulting in its larger thickness (0.08 mm). PaCSF could resist UV light more effectively than SCSF did. Concerning antioxidant activity, the DPPH radical scavenging ability of PaCSF increased linearly with time passing, reaching 72.46% after 8 h, which was better than that of SCSF. The antibacterial activity assay exhibited that PaCSF resisted the growth of Serratia marcescens and Escherichia coli more effectively than SCSF did. The results implied that P. americana chitosan could be a potential raw material for food packaging, providing a new way to develop P. americana.


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