Research Article

The effect of illumination with different light wavelengths on the orientation of Turkestan cockroach, Blatta lateralis (Walker, 1868) (Blattodea: Blattidae)

Volume: 44 Number: 4 December 31, 2020
EN TR

The effect of illumination with different light wavelengths on the orientation of Turkestan cockroach, Blatta lateralis (Walker, 1868) (Blattodea: Blattidae)

Abstract

In this study, the effect of illumination with different light wavelengths (red, green, yellow, blue, white and a dark control) on the orientation of the Turkestan cockroach, Blatta lateralis (Walker,1868) (Blattodea: Blattidae) was investigated. The study was conducted under laboratory conditions in 2019 at Bursa Uludağ University. In orientation trials, adult cockroaches were exposed to three different light illuminances (25, 250 and 2500 lux). The trials were conducted in six- and two-arm choice arenas. In each trial, three replicates and 100 individuals were used. The data obtained show that the sensitivity to the illumination with different wavelengths may increase depending on light intensity. In particular, in the six-arm and two-arm trial, in the experiment where blue light of 2500 lux intensity was applied, the cockroach orientation was the lowest at 0.9% and 1.8%, respectively. In general, the highest orientation was against the dark (control) chamber in all trials. In addition, under all lux values, the orientation to red light was higher than with green, yellow, blue and white light. As a result of this study, it has been determined that blue light may have a repellent effect on cockroaches, and red light may be more attractive than other wavelengths. These studies can be useful in the development of an alternative method of control to replace chemicals used against cockroaches that would be harmless to human health and the environment.

Keywords

Thanks

The authors thank the anonymous referees for their invaluable comments and suggestions which helped improve this manuscript.

References

  1. Ahmad, A., A. Ghosh, C. Schal & L. Zurek, 2011. Insects in confined swine operations carry a large antibiotic resistant and potentially virulence enterococcal community. BMC Microbiology, 11 (23): 1471-2180.
  2. Alesho, N. A., 1997. Synathropic cockroaches of Russia. Proceedings of the International Colloquia on Social Insects, 3-4: 45-50.
  3. Alkan, M., T. Atay, S. Ertürk & İ. Kepenekçi. 2019. Comparison of bioactivities of native diatomaceous earth against Turkestan cockroach [Blatta lateralis Walker (Blattodea: Blattidae)] nymphs. Applied Ecology and Environment Research, 17 (3): 5897-5994.
  4. Anonymous, 2019. Antalya çekirge. (Web page: www.antalyacekirge.net) (Date accessed: 2 October 2020).
  5. Artyukhina, I., 1972. Ecology of Turkestan cockroaches (Shelfordella tartara) in some villages of the Uzber-SSR. Medicinskaya Parazitologiya i Parazitarnye Bolezina, 41 (1): 49-53.
  6. Ashfaq, M., R. A. Khan, M. A. Khan, F. Rasheed & S. Hafeez, 2005. Insect orientation to various color lights in the agricultural biomes of Faisalabad. Pakistan Entomologist, 27 (1): 49-52.
  7. Baggio-Deibler, M. V., M. da Costa Ferreira, A. C. Monteiro, A. de Souza Pollo & M. V. Franco Lemos, 2018. Management of the American cockroach’s oothecae: The potential of entomopathogenic fungi control. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 153 (March): 30-34.
  8. Bueno-Marí, R., A. Bernués-Bañeres, F. J. Peris-Felipo, J. Moreno-Marí & R. Jiménez-Peydró, 2013. American cockroach control assays in the municipal sewerage system of Valencia (Spain). Polish Journal of Entomology, 82 (3): 143-150.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

-

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 31, 2020

Submission Date

July 28, 2020

Acceptance Date

October 20, 2020

Published in Issue

Year 1970 Volume: 44 Number: 4

APA
Burhan, A., & Gençer, N. (2020). The effect of illumination with different light wavelengths on the orientation of Turkestan cockroach, Blatta lateralis (Walker, 1868) (Blattodea: Blattidae). Turkish Journal of Entomology, 44(4), 477-486. https://doi.org/10.16970/entoted.774867