The American Cockroach

This volume deals mainly with the biology of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (1.). Contributors were urged to emphasize recent findings, including unpublished data when possible, a goal that would not have been feasible if it were not for the two previously published books on the basic biology of cockroaches, The Biology o/the Cockroach (1968) by D. M. Guthrie and A. R. Tindall and The Cockroach, Volume 1 (1968) by P. B. Cornwell. Those topics not included in The American Cockroach, such as external morphology, are well covered in the two preceding books. In addition, these books provided a broad background upon which contributors to The American Cockroach have been able to build with recent trends, new and established concepts and integration. Although this book deals primarily with the American cockroach, many chapters offer a comparative approach in sections where the more recent and exciting research has been accomplished on other species. Most contributors place the cockroach in perspective with regard to its appropriateness or inappropriateness for various types of biological investigations. Many questions are realistically left unanswered when no acceptable or obvious solution is apparent; an invitation to new researchers to consider the cockroach as an experimental subject.

List of contents

1. Introduction.- 1.1 Distribution.- 1.2 Life cycle.- 1.3 Ecology.- 1.4 Biotic associations and medical importance.- 1.5 Economic and biological importance.- 2. Integument.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Structure of the integument.- 2.3 Integument during ecdysis.- 2.4 Stabilization of the oötheca.- 3. Circulatory System.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Heart and circulation.- 3.3 Haemolymph volume.- 3.4 Haemocytes.- 3.5 Constituents of haemolymph.- 4. Nutrition and Digestion.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Morphology of the alimentary canal and salivary glands.- 4.3 Nutrition.- 4.4 Enzymology.- 4.5 Physiology of digestion.- 4.6 Microbiology and pathology of the gut.- 5. Respiration.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Rates of gaseous exchange.- 5.3 Morphology of the tracheal system.- 5.4 Spiracle activity.- 5.5 Ventilation mechanisms.- 5.6 Diffusive-convective gas exchange in quiescent insects.- 6. Osmoregulation and Excretion.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Water relations.- 6.3 Components of water and ion metabolism.- 6.4 Excretory products.- 6.5 Regulation and kinetics of osmoregulation.- 6.6 Conclusions.- 7. Fat Body and Metabolism.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Morphology.- 7.3 Histology and ultrastructure.- 7.4 Bacteroids.- 7.5 Composition of fat body.- 7.6 Intermediary metabolism.- 7.7 Conclusions.- 8. Nervous System.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Structural organization of central and peripheral pathways.- 8.3 The extraneuronal compartment.- 8.4 Electrophysiology.- 8.5 Synaptic transmission.- 8.6 Toxicology.- 8.7 Functional organization.- 8.8 Learning.- 9. Sense Organs.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Visual system.- 9.3 Mechanoreceptive sensory systems.- 9.4 Antennal sensory system.- 9.5 Chemoreceptors on the maxillary palpus.- 9.6 Conclusions.- 10. Rhythms.- 10.1 Concepts and terminology.- 10.2 Circadian rhythms ofindividuals.- 10.3 Circadian rhythms of populations.- 10.4 Circadian rhythms of physiological systems.- 10.5 Location of photoreceptors and circadian pacemakers.- 10.6 Rhythms other than circadian.- 10.7 Conclusions.- 11. Muscles and Muscular Activity.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Organization and innervation.- 11.3 Biochemistry.- 11.4 Electrophysiology.- 11.5 Neuromuscular transmission and its chemical basis.- 11.6 Mechanical properties.- 11.7 Functional use of muscle.- 12. Neurosecretions and Hormones.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 Neurosecretory cells (NSC).- 12.3 Corpora cardiaca (CC).- 12.4 Neurohormones of the ventral nerve cord.- 12.5 Corpora allata (CA).- 12.6 Prothoracic glands (PG).- 12.7 Ovary as an endocrine organ.- 13. Reproduction.- 13.1 Introduction.- 13.2 Female reproductive system.- 13.3 Male reproductive system.- 14. Pheromones and Behaviour.- 14.1 Introduction.- 14.2 Orientation.- 14.3 Courtship.- 14.4 Agonism.- 14.5 Aggregation.- 14.6 Learning.- 14.7 Conclusion.- 15. Embryonic and Post-Embryonic Development.- 15.1 Introduction.- 15.2 Embryogenesis.- 15.3 The ootheca.- 15.4 Culture of intact embryos ex-ovo.- 15.5 Embryonic behaviour development.- 15.6 Eclosion and hatching.- 15.7 Tissue culture of the embryonic nervous system.- 15.8 Conclusion.- 16. Regeneration.- 16.1 Introduction.- 16.2 Tissues with regenerative potential.- 16.3 Phenomenology of limb regeneration.- 16.4 Regulation of regeneration.- 16.5 Unified model.- 16.6 Conclusion.- References.- Species Index.

Product details

• Authors: K G Adiyodi, K. G. Adiyodi, K.G. Adiyodi
• Assisted by: K.A. Adiyodi (Editor), William J. Bell (Editor)
• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 26.06.2009
• EAN: 9780412161407
• ISBN: 978-0-412-16140-7
• No. of pages: 530
• Dimensions: 164 mm x 237 mm x 35 mm
• Weight: 982 g
• Illustrations: XVIII, 530 p.
• Subject: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology