LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF THE FORAGING EFFICIENCY OF NYMPHAL GERMAN COCKROACHES (DICTYOPTERA, BLATTELLIDAE) BETWEEN RESOURCE SITES IN AN EXPERIMENTAL ARENA

Studies were conducted in the laboratory using computerized moving ima ge analysis to determine foraging efficiency of nymphal German cockroa ches, Blattella germanica (L.), between food, water, and harborage res ource sites in an experimental arena. Nymphs (second and fifth instars ), were examined for the first 6 d of each respective nymphal stadium, which consisted of days having a 12:12 (L:D) h photoperiod. A nonstat ionary Markov chain analysis indicated both an age and sex difference in the foraging efficiency of nymphs. Female fifth instars became more efficient in their movements between the resource sites. The male fif th instars were very erratic in their movements and were not found to become more efficient over time. The second instars also did not impro ve their foraging efficiency. Implications of these findings related t o nymphal and adult behavior are discussed.