RELEASE AND RECAPTURE OF GERMAN COCKROACHES BLATTELLA GERMANICA (L.), IN A VACANT HOUSE

Abstract:
The activities of released German cockroaches in a vacant wooden house were investigated. Migrations to rooms away from the release point were infrequent and most cockroaches remained near the release point. Populations of cockroaches which became established in rooms, increased in summer but decreased with the fall in indoor temperature. However, the population which became established around the heating resource did not decrease. It is suggested that the distribution and population density of German cockroaches in buildings is determined by wandering cockroaches, the existence and numbers of heating resources and the presence of a food supply. A trial to estimate the population by capturing cockroaches on traps was not successful because of a marking failure.