Exoskeletal Anatomy of the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Gromphadorhina portentosa1

Dailey, Patrick J.; Graves, Robert C.

doi:10.1093/aesa/69.4.589

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Dissections revealed that medial to the spiracular opening, the trachea branches immediately into three to four major vessels, which extend in multiple directions. These findings are similar to those described by Dailey and Graves (Dailey and Graves, 1976).…”

Section: Dissections and Microscopic Observationssupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Contrary to Nelson (Nelson, 1979), who reports three pairs of thoracic spiracles, we identified only two pairs of thoracic spiracles and seven pairs of abdominal spiracles in G. portentosa. Our observations support the findings of Dailey and Graves (Dailey and Graves, 1976) that the thorax includes only two pairs of spiracles, which is consistent with the tracheal anatomy described by Snodgrass (Snodgrass, 1935). This may be a result of the reduction or loss of the metathoracic spiracles, which is a common occurrence in the thoracic tracheal anatomy of insects (Snodgrass, 1935).…”

Section: Spiracle Morphologysupporting

confidence: 92%

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Coordinated ventilation and spiracle activity produce unidirectional airflow in the hissing cockroach,Gromphadorhina portentosa

Heinrich

McHenry

Bradley

2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Insects exchange respiratory gases via an extensive network of tracheal vessels that open to the surface of the body through spiracular valves. Although gas exchange is known to increase with the opening of these spiracles, it is not clear how this event relates to gas flow through the tracheal system. We examined the relationship between respiratory airflow and spiracle activity in a ventilating insect, the hissing cockroach, Gromphadorhina portentosa, to better understand the complexity of insect respiratory function. Using simultaneous video recordings of multiple spiracular valves, we found that abdominal spiracles open and close in unison during periods of ventilation. Additionally, independent recordings of CO2 release from the abdominal and thoracic regions and observations of hyperoxic tracer gas movement indicate that air is drawn into the thoracic spiracles and expelled from the abdominal spiracles. Our video recordings suggest that this unidirectional flow is driven by abdominal contractions that occur when the abdominal spiracles open. The spiracles then close as the abdomen relaxes and fills with air from the thorax. Therefore, the respiratory system of the hissing cockroach functions as a unidirectional pump through the coordinated action of the spiracles and abdominal musculature. This mechanism may be employed by a broad diversity of large insects that respire by active ventilation.

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Section: Dissections and Microscopic Observationssupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Spiracle Morphologysupporting

confidence: 92%

Coordinated ventilation and spiracle activity produce unidirectional airflow in the hissing cockroach,Gromphadorhina portentosa

Heinrich

McHenry

Bradley

2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…portentosa, like all cockroaches, possesses smooth flexible pads found at the distal end of the leg on the tarsus. There are five pads altogether; the first four segments of the tarsus contain pads called the euplantula, while the most flexible fifth segment found at the distal end of the tarsus and is called the pretarsus, which is made up of a broadly triangular adhesive pad called the arolium and two pretarsal claws ( Roth and Willis 1952 ; Dailey and Graves 1976 ). The euplantula and arolium have been shown to have different uses during terrestrial locomotion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The euplantula are used when the legs are pushing, in walking and climbing, and have been demonstrated not to act as adhesive organs but rather in fact as friction pads used to power locomotion ( Clemente et al 2008 ). The pretarsal claws allow cockroaches to grip and move over rough surfaces, and the arolium is the adhesive organ of the cockroach foot engaged when the legs are pulling and used in scaling and adhering to smooth surfaces ( Arnold 1974 ; Dailey and Graves 1976 ; Clemente et al 2008 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foot morphology and substrate adhesion in the Madagascan hissing cockroach, Gromphadorhina portentosa

Casteren

Codd

2010

Journal of Insect Science

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Insects are successful terrestrial organisms able to locomote over a wide range of obstacles and substrates. This study investigated how foot morphology (tarsal structure) correlates with substrate adhesion and ecological niche in the Madagascan hissing cockroach, Gromphadorhina portentosa Schaum (Blattaria: Blaberidae). Using light and scanning electron microscopy, the morphology of the different structures of the tarsus of G. portentosa was analysed. Using an Instron® universal testing machine, a series of peak force experiments were then conducted to record the force required to lift the cockroaches off different substrates. G. portentosa was pulled off 10 different substrates, which consisted of smooth Perspex; Perspex scored at 1cm intervals; Perspex hatched at 1 cm, 0.5 cm, and 1 mm intervals; Perspex abraded with fine grade sandpaper; Perspex abraded with coarse grade sandpaper; wood; glass; and Teflon. A clear relationship was seen where an increase in scoring on the Perspex caused a decrease in adhesive ability of G. portentosa. This may be due to there being adequate contact area for the attachment of the pads and to allow the claws to engage. The results obtained suggest that to achieve the greatest adhesion to substrates, G. portentosa uses a combined effect of both adhesive pads and pretarsal claws. Adhesion to a wide range of substrates appears to be an adaptation to life as a wingless forest floor dweller.

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“…There are a few sources for gross anatomy of MHC or insect anatomy texts that include MHC, which can be helpful to better understand the anatomy of these insects. 15,16,32 There have been multiple recent articles discussing anesthesia of MHC, radiology of invertebrates, and general advice for invertebrate medicine, which shows an increasing interest in invertebrate medicine by clinicians. 9,17,34 Postmortem examinations, including histological examination by veterinary pathologists, is key to better understand diseases of invertebrates, including insects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Histological Findings in Captive Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa) and a Literature Review

Monahan

Bogan

LaDouceur³

2023

Vet Pathol

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Madagascar hissing cockroaches (MHC, Gromphadorhina portentosa) are members of the Blaberidae (giant cockroaches) family of the Insecta class. They are native to the African island of Madagascar where they live within leaf litter on the rainforest floor. Due to their large size, relative tameness, and general easy keeping, they have become popular in classrooms, zoological collections, museums, research laboratories, and as private exotic pets; however, descriptions of diseases of MHC in the literature are rare. The objective of this study is to describe and characterize postmortem histological findings in 18 captive MHC from a single zoological collection. In this retrospective study, 18 (4 females and 14 males) adult MHC necropsies were submitted to Northwest ZooPath between 2016 and 2020 for evaluation. The main organs with histological lesions were chitinous gut (foregut and/or hindgut; n = 17), tracheae ( n = 15), fat body ( n = 14), ventriculus (midgut) ( n = 13), body wall ( n = 12), Malpighian tubules ( n = 12), and hemolymphatic sinuses ( n = 12). All animals had inflammatory lesions affecting various organs. Inflammatory lesions typically consisted of aggregates of hemocytes with variable amounts of melanization and/or encapsulation. Bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections were common and variably associated with hemocytic inflammation. Many of these organisms may represent symbiotic organisms of the MHC that cause opportunistic infections. This study contributes to the current knowledge of pathological findings and disease response of MHC and reviews diseases reported in multiple cockroach species.

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Exoskeletal Anatomy of the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Gromphadorhina portentosa1

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Coordinated ventilation and spiracle activity produce unidirectional airflow in the hissing cockroach,Gromphadorhina portentosa

Coordinated ventilation and spiracle activity produce unidirectional airflow in the hissing cockroach,Gromphadorhina portentosa

Foot morphology and substrate adhesion in the Madagascan hissing cockroach, Gromphadorhina portentosa

Histological Findings in Captive Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa) and a Literature Review

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